By Adam J Smith, Associate Professor in 18th-century Literature, York St John University
From the pompous vanity of Sir Walter Elliot in Persuasion (1817), to the shallow reading habits of Isabella in Northanger Abbey (1817), few characters in the works of Jane Austen are spared the gentle satire of her famously ironic narrative voice. Similarly, some of her best remembered characters, like Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice (1813), are more than willing to share a sarcastic retort or wry observation.…
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By Anastasia Topalidou, Research Fellow (Perinatal Biomechanics and Health Technologies), University of Lancashire
We know more about the mechanics of space than of childbirth. With no studies or evidence, care is based on assumptions, and women are paying the price.
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By Ryan Davey, Lecturer in Social Sciences, Cardiff University
You get a payment reminder through the letterbox, maybe for a credit card, an overdraft, a bill, or a parking fine. You ignore it and leave the envelope unopened, or put it to one side to deal with later. Many of us will recognise this scenario.
Ignoring debts and other payment commitments is often dismissed as being irresponsible. But a closer look reveals that many people see things differently, reflecting a deeper point about inequality in Britain today.
To understand people’s experiences of debt problems better, I lived in a low-income community in the south of England…
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By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
A Chinese woman has appeared in the ACT magistrates court on Monday accused of foreign interference, by allegedly covertly collecting information about a Canberra Buddhist association.
Police arrested the woman, an Australian permanent resident, on Saturday, after searching homes in Canberra. Electronic devices were seized.
The Australian Federal Police and ASIO announced in a joint statement the AFP would allege the women “was tasked by a Public Security Bureau of China to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist association”.…
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By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
Krissy Barrett has been appointed the first female commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, replacing Reece Kershaw, who is retiring ahead of the end of his term.
As a deputy commissioner since 2024, Barrett has managed the national security portfolio. Her responsibilities have included counter terrorism, special investigations, and foreign interference and espionage.
Announcing her appointment at a news conference in Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Barrett was renowned for her leadership capability. “I’ve certainly seen that firsthand in the dealings…
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By Alex Simpson, Associate Professor in Criminology, Macquarie University
Vincent Hurley, Lecturer in Criminology, police and policing, Dept of Security Studies & Criminology, Macquarie University, Macquarie University
Across five days in April 2024, seven people were killed in five separate knife-related attacks in Sydney.
Two in particular caught huge media attention: the deadly Westfield Bondi attacks and the Wakeley church attack on Bishop Mari Emmanuel.
Three further attacks, including a stabbing…
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By Timothy J. Mahony, Professor of Animal Health and Director, Centre for Animal Science, The University of Queensland
Australian livestock farmers see foot-and-mouth disease as an existential threat. A new vaccine offers hope – but not a silver bullet.
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By Jo Carter
For those who wish to learn Tai Chi, there are a few steps. Firstly, you practice forms. Once you master them, you focus on strength and movements. Finally, you cultivate the mind.
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By Sabhrina Gita Aninta, Postdoctoral research fellow, University of Copenhagen
● Small-island populations are thriving in their small numbers.
● Small islands can be natural refugia for endangered megafauna.
● Protecting ecosystems on small islands is crucial for national conservation plans.
Animal populations on small islands are often thought to be unlikely to survive in the long term. Continued exploitation of small islands—such as mining in Raja Ampat,…
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By Sue Turnbull, Honorary Professor of Communication and Media Studies, University of Wollongong
New crime novels by Mark Brandi and Jennifer Trevelyan are enthralling dramas about the loss of innocence and the possibility of redemption.
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