Inform future workplace reform based on evidence, not ideology Addressing fatigue is not about working less — it is about working smarter, safer, and more sustainably. A modern economy depends on a healthy, capable workforce. Australia can lead by testing what the evidence already suggests: that well-rested workers are more productive, resilient, and engaged.

We demonstrate that: · The minimum wage adequacy benchmark remains at approximately 36% of required living standards, where it should be approximately 50% post-GST · This 14-point gap creates systemic underpayment of low-income Australians · It generates unfunded liabilities in workers' compensation schemes · It produces impossible compliance contradictions between social security and injury compensation systems · It results in significant revenue shortfalls for state and federal governments Fiscal Domino Effect Revenue Stream Annual Shortfall Cause WorkCover Premiums ~$780 million Suppressed wage base State Payroll Tax ~$1.5 billion Suppressed wage base Federal Income Tax ~$6.24 billion Suppressed wages GST Collections ~$2 billion Suppressed consumption Total Estimated ~$10.52 billion/year This submission provides the evidence, analysis, and pathway for correction. We urge all addressed parties to: 1. Formally acknowledge the 2000 GST anomaly 2. Commit to the LECI development and implementation 3. Begin the systemic recalibration Australia needs   The time for temporary fixes has passed. We must complete the social policy framework that should have accompanied the 2000 tax reform.

On Sunday at Bondi we witnessed the appalling consequences of hatred and how it breeds radicalisation and violence. But as the Jewish community and the whole country grieved, some politicians went on the attack, exploiting a tragedy to sow division and pit our communities against each other. Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce are attacking our Muslim and Palestinian friends, families and neighbours. Benjamin Netanyahu and Jillian Segal are pushing to erode our civil liberties and attacking those who peacefully protest genocide. Andrew Hastie and Josh Frydenberg are trying to score political points by attacking migrant communities. But we all deserve to feel safe, no matter our religion or where we come from. We cannot allow our grief, fear and anger to be used as a political weapon to spread division and hate. Jewish communities are beautifully diverse, culturally and politically. Antisemitism and racism flourish when the diversity of any community is erased. The far-right Israeli government does not speak for Jewish people in Australia and is not interested in our safety. Only we can create safety for each other. We are asking all Australians to unite behind the call to end antisemitism, racism and gun violence in the wake of this unthinkable tragedy. The only way to build lasting community strength and safety is by coming together.  There are a number of incredible partner organisations working with the Jewish Council to promote this campaign. Note that signatures collected on this page will be tallied together with those collected by our partners.

His actions disarming a gunman are the actions of a naturally heroic person.

Because what happened here isn’t an error. It shows how easily money can be taken from people who have the least ability to absorb the loss. For someone living on a pension or low income, a “small fee” can throw out an entire fortnight: a skipped meal, a postponed prescription, a bill that suddenly can’t be paid. These decisions shape people’s day-to-day survival. What makes this worse is how quietly it happened. Most affected customers only found out when the regulator forced the banks to hand over the data. And even now, one of the biggest banks in the country is refusing to repay the full amount. If this is allowed to stand, it signals to every major financial institution that low-income customers are easy targets: less likely to complain, less likely to switch banks, more likely to absorb losses they shouldn’t have to. That’s why adding your name matters. It shows that people are paying attention, and that this kind of treatment won’t pass unnoticed. It’s a simple step, but it builds the public pressure needed to make sure the rules catch up with reality, and that this doesn’t become business as usual.

Across the country, people are doing their best on incomes that no one could survive on. Parents skipping meals so their kids can eat. Older people choosing between rent and medicine. Disabled people fighting the system just to get the support they’re entitled to. Young people couch-surfing because rent has skyrocketed out of reach. And hanging over all of it is a digital web of obligations, points targets and automated penalties – a system where your only income can be suspended because an algorithm misread your situation or a provider didn’t update their notes. This kind of hardship means people are less likely to stand up for their rights. That kind of compliance helps maintain low wages, insecure jobs, and a profitable “job services” industry that survives on churn, not long-term outcomes. Robodebt showed us what happens when governments automate punishment. Lives were destroyed. Families were left grieving. Rights were ignored. Yet today, many of the same or similar systems remain – just with different branding and a new interface. People deserve better than this. They deserve fairness. They deserve dignity. They deserve a future where support helps people get back on their feet – instead of pushing them deeper into stress and insecurity so others can profit. Raising the rate and ending automated punishment isn’t just good economic policy, it’s a stand for what kind of country we want to be. One where we look after each other, and where no one is disposable.

Across Australia, too many older people are trapped in an aged-care system that treats them like numbers on a form instead of human beings with rights, dignity and agency. Here’s what that looks like in practice: ““What’s your primary health condition?” “I have multiple equally primary health conditions.” “You have to pick one.” After 40 years of disability, I was told “pain it is then.” I asked for help with home maintenance and meal preparation – but there was only one provider. They couldn’t guarantee staff would be masked or vaccinated, and I wasn’t allowed to choose someone I trust. When I explained I couldn’t afford supermarket meals on a pension, I was told the provider’s books were closed – “buy prepared meals yourself.” I thought I could choose my own provider, but was told I’m “on CHSP” and “don’t need higher level care.” I still don’t understand what that means – only that I’m left without the help I need.” This is not an isolated story. It’s the experience of so many people who’ve worked, cared, and contributed all their lives, now caught in a maze of red tape and underfunding. Every older Australian deserves: • Choice and control over who provides their care • Timely support instead of months-long waiting lists • Respect for safety and consent, not one-size-fits-all providers • Dignity in ageing, not confusion and neglect When we ignore these failures, we betray the very people who built the communities we live in today. Fixing aged care isn’t charity, it’s justice. It’s about valuing life, care and connection at every age.

The effects of these chemicals are widely unknown, with only certain chemicals having been studied. They are used in all sorts of products, including children's toys. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said children might be more sensitive to the harmful effects of chemicals like PFAS as they were still developing. In the EU, in addition to the PFAS class ban, authorities are also in the process of adopting new safety regulations that include bans on PFAS and other harmful chemicals, specifically in toys.  Australia needs to join the rest of the world in taking a precautionary approach, rather than responding to confirmed toxicity once a single chemical is studied. We should be banning this entire class of chemicals until it can be proven that some (if any) are safe for use in consumer products.

This matters to all Australians. Coalition Prime Ministers have in past decades dispatched our soldiers and Air Force to support  invasions by the USA of Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. In every case these invasions were accompanied by false or misleading propaganda, and in every case they were disastrous; far from establishing working democracies favourable to western interests, they were decisively defeated in Vietnam and Afghanistan, and have led to chaotic internal politics in Iraq. Australian lives were lost or permanently damaged supporting these invasions, not to mention the deaths and suffering inflicted on the local population of each country. The Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam withdrew Australian troops from Vietnam as soon as possible after taking office. But now we have a new Labor Prime Minister, Antony Albanese, declaring support for yet another dangerous military venture, this time led by a corrupt and erratic US President and an accused war criminal Prime Minister of Israel. We must ask him to withdraw that support, otherwise Australia may be involved in yet another  disastrous conflict, this time a conflagration which threatens to engulf  the entire Middle East.

We, the undersigned students, parents, educators, and community members, respectfully request that our school adopt a four‑day school week in place of the current five‑day schedule. This change would maintain academic quality while improving student wellbeing, teacher effectiveness, and overall school community health. 🌱 Why a Four‑Day Week Benefits Students • Reduced stress and burnout — Students face increasing academic pressure, homework loads, and extracurricular commitments. A shorter week provides essential recovery time, improving mental health and motivation. • More time for family, rest, and personal development — An extra day allows students to pursue hobbies, sports, part‑time work, and community involvement. • Improved attendance and engagement — Schools that have adopted four‑day weeks often report fewer absences and higher classroom participation. 🎓 Why It Supports Teachers and Learning Quality • More planning and preparation time — Teachers gain a dedicated day to plan lessons, assess work, and collaborate, leading to higher‑quality teaching. • Reduced teacher burnout — A healthier work–life balance helps retain skilled educators and improves classroom energy. • Better focus during the school day — Slightly longer class periods allow for deeper learning and fewer interruptions. 💰 Why It Makes Sense for Schools and Communities • Lower operational costs — Schools save on transport, utilities, and staffing for one day each week. • More efficient use of resources — A focused four‑day schedule encourages smarter planning and reduces wasted time. • Positive community impact — Families gain flexibility, and local programs can offer enrichment activities on the fifth day. 📌 Our Request We ask school leadership and the governing education body to: 1. Conduct a formal review of the four‑day school week model. 2. Consult with students, parents, and teachers about implementation options. 3. Trial a four‑day week for one term to evaluate academic outcomes, wellbeing, and community response. We believe this change will create a healthier, more effective, and more modern learning environment for everyone. We respectfully urge you to consider this proposal.

In Australia, we we losing vegetation and biodiversity at an alarming rate. Australia is one of the world’s deforestation hotspots, with more than 45% of forests cleared since European settlement. Over 10 million hectares of forests and woodlands were cleared between 2000–2017, including more than 7.7 million hectares of threatened species habitat. Northern Territory contains one of the largest and most intact tropical savanna systems left on the Earth.  Tropical savanna woodlands provide habitat for mammals, reptiles, frogs and birds including critically threatened species such as Gouldian finches, freshwater sawfish, pig-nosed turtles, red goshawks and ghost bats. Not only do these woodlands support important fauna, but savanna woodlands stabilise soils, filter sediments and slow surface runoff during intense seasonal rain.  Savanna woodlands also store carbon in the trees and soil. Clearing releases that stored carbon and removes the future capacity of the land to absorb emissions. Northern Territory’s tropical savanna ecosystem is one of the last large, relatively intact savanna landscapes left on the planet. Please help me save it. 

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