It’s one of these things that logically you know must happen occasionally (and I’ve even seen pictures of it) but still doesn’t seem right.

I am impressed the shark got it out again and didn’t end up with a permanent internal echidna spine collection.

The American inspired variety of sovereign citizen is enough, I don’t think we really need our own special version of the idea.

Yes, I would think Finland would be more around the top of the Snowies/Vic Alps, particularly as you approach the treeline. England seems a better fit for the ACT (though you might need to ignore summer for that).

I feel like inflation has rather diminished the impact of the monetary side of a contempt finding - $5k just doesn’t have the same impact as six months in prison anymore. It’s like how you see the occasional old sign in lifts warning that smoking can be punished by a (presumably initially impactful) fine of up to $20…

They can get funding, but not in the next election. If you get more than 4% of first preference votes then you can get money after an election to help repay expenditure for that election, up to the lesser of the amount you have spent or the number of first preference votes multiplied by a few dollars (currently $3.29). Reading the info page it seems to make it easier they pay out $12k if you qualify and you can claim more if necessary.

This does mean it’s worthwhile spending your first preference on a smaller candidate you approve of though. They aren’t necessarily getting ahead with that funding but being able to offset their election spending would be a real benefit to people/groups which don’t have piles of money to spend (and makes it more likely they’ll be able to try again next election).

Fernwood, a women only gym, is allowed to exist.

Because there are sections of the law which allow exemption from the gender discrimination section for various reasons, and they have successfully argued that there are benefits to having a women only gym which are important enough to deserve an exemption (to provide substantive equality). They also only allow women patrons, so men are not charged for a service that is not equally provided.

I don’t really see it as problematic for a discriminated class to seek to foster a space free from those who perpetuate that discrimination

Neither do many other people, which is why such examples as Fernwood have received exemptions from the law and why there is a specific exemption in the laws for both female and male only clubs.

I don’t think it sets a precedent for protected classes to be discriminated against as “art” because men aren’t a class that needs protecting

Allowing discrimination based on gender without substantiating the businesses eligibility for an exemption under the law absolutely would set a precedent for the courts. While you may agree with this particular case of discrimination it is not a good idea to open an opportunity for more discrimination in the future - keep in mind it may not always be the type you agree with.

Good. I think the other option - setting a precedent allowing businesses to skirt discrimination laws by claiming their behaviour was art - would have been a rather poor decision.

The ABC now likes to do clickbait style headlines like that to try and grab attention, it’s a trend that annoys me. They also often rotate through options including a more traditional headline depending on what device you use and what time you access it - currently the headline is showing for me as “Electric car sales in Australia’s outer suburbs take off as commuters pocket ‘ridiculous’ savings”, which while still a bit hyped up is more informative.

British white people have never

As long as you forget about the Irish, the Welsh, and (to a lesser extent IIRC) the Scots - all of whom are white and British.

Changing to a motor which wasn’t originally offered in that model of vehicle definitely needs certification, at least in NSW (other states might be more lenient).

Whenever I see stuff like this I wonder how on earth they managed to get someone to sign off on the engineering certificate. Then again it does say he’s worked in engineering of some varieties so maybe he can self certify.

Quite a lot of people nowadays - at least not at a fluent level. I know I’ve gotten worse at it over time due to rarely requiring to read much of other people’s handwriting or handwrite myself, to the point where even in the reasonably clear example in the article I had to stop and consider a few words. Without experience reading cursive it’s noticeably harder to comprehend compared to printed text, and we’ve now had a whole generation grow up in a world where pretty much everything they read was printed (and usually on a screen at that) rather than handwritten.

Ah yes, but it was not just the request to speak English - the Australian oriented group also used an outline of Australia as the group icon. Now that’s how you know someone is truly a prominent racist/white supremacist and you should write a bunch of blog posts about how horrible they are…

Here’s hoping that they don’t create something like the US, with a perverse incentive towards selling more light commercial vehicles instead of regular cars. I’d rather not end up with even more people running increasingly large dual cab utes as daily drivers.

I would say most do but some don’t, and with those that do the level of uniform required varies.

My primary school didn’t require uniforms for regular days, though they did have what was called the sports uniform shirt which they preferred kids to wear if away from the school (generally used for sports carnivals with other local schools).

My high school did require uniforms but only really cared about enforcing the uniform shirt and some variety of closed shoe.

The school my youngest sister did years 11-12 at didn’t require uniforms at all, though they probably did care about closed shoes due to safety in science classes etc.

Not a fan of the golden wattle design, it looks like what you’d get if BP asked someone to design them a new flag and do a bit of creative writing to make it sound good.

The Eureka flag could have been a good option in the past but I feel it’s a bit too associated with either unions or cookers these days to be accepted by everyone (would prefer if the cookers gave up on it and left it to the unions).

Modifying the Eureka flag is an idea which I think has a bit of potential but the Great Southern Flag just throws too much at it. Maybe just turning it green and gold and making the stars seven pointed instead of eight would work better.

I kind of like this other design which I found in an image search for alternative flags - fairly simple design (drawable by kids if you’re prepared to put up with wonky kangaroos) using generally recognisable and neutral symbols and I think it looks alright.

The chain was going to be in the water regardless, because unless you’re really carrying a lot of speed bikes don’t float over water. Sure it would have been better environmentally to stay home and not venture out at all, but I actually like to see some of said environment and a dirt bike is a fun way to do so (and it even has less of an environmental impact than a 4wd).

It’s where Jerrabattgulla fire trail crosses Jerrabattgulla creek, in Tallaganda state forest. It’s a nice little green section around there surrounded by drier more scrubby country on the way in and out.

The fire part comes along when the water dries up