Student Politics in the Age of Apathy (from October 2012)

Originally published in Farrago, October 2012. Not available online.

Elusive ingredient a roadblock to fertile ambitions

As thank-you letters go, it is fairly unusual. Thank you so much for your sperm. This is essentially what Kelly Osterberg and her female partner wrote to the man who donated his sperm so that they could have their baby boy, Wyatt, in February 2012.

When they donate to sperm banks, men have the option of explaining their motivation for a big decision that doesn't necessarily spring to mind on a rainy day.

Read the full story here. 

Originally published in the Sun-Herald, April 7th 2013.

Geert Wilders in Melbourne—Farrago reports

Firebrand Dutch MP Geert Wilders warned last night that Australia faces the prospect of Muslim ghettos and Sharia law if steps are not taken to ensure freedom of speech and a debate in which people are allowed to “speak the truth” about Islam.

In his first address on a speaking tour of Australia—held at an outer-suburbs convention centre amidst intense security—Wilders pushed his key arguments of protection of freedom of speech and his view that Islam is not compatible with Western society.

Read the full story here.

Originally published online at Farrago February 20th 2013. 

Legionnaires' disease kills Melbourne man, while four more are ill

HEALTH authorities are cleaning air conditioning cooling towers in the Melbourne suburb of Footscray after an outbreak of legionnaires' disease claimed a man's life.

The man, aged in his 50s, died today at the Western Hospital.

There are another four known cases of the flu-like illness, with a 75-year-old woman remaining in Sunshine Hospital.

Two men, aged 56 and 69, and a 93-year-old woman have already been released after treatment at Western Hospital.

Originally published on The Australian Online 24 Jan 2013, full story here.

Israelis abroad want election say

JUST 12 months ago, Harel Meshulam was dodging falling Palestinian rockets at a military base on the Gaza-Israel border. Now he is in Australia to work and travel but will be denied the right to vote when his compatriots in Israel head to the polls for today's general election.

Israel's electoral law prohibits citizens from voting if they are out of the country on election day.

Originally published in The Australian 22 Jan 2013, full story here.

NBN Co faces wireless tower backlash

The National Broadband Network Company is under fire for an alleged lack of community consultation as it rolls out fixed wireless infrastructure across parts of regional Australia, with local councils expressing frustration at what they say is an ‘apply first, consult later’ pattern of behaviour.

In June NBN Co announced it was constructing fixed wireless infrastructure across 42 local government districts in Victoria and Tasmania. The Dorset Council, based in Scottsdale in north-east Tasmania, on August 20 rejected, seven councillors to two, NBN Co’s application to build a 35-metre high wireless broadband tower on the town’s golf course. NBN Co will be appealing that decision at the Tasmanian Planning Tribunal.

Read the full story at Delimiter 

Journalism 101 - SYN Radio

On the 16th June 2012 I did an hour-long show for the Experimental Hour segment on SYN radio in Melbourne. I talked first with Margaret Simons, Director of the Centre for Advanced Journalism at the University of Melbourne about journalism education. I next spoke with media writer at The Australian Nic Christensen about getting feet in doors. They were followed up with a long chat touching on almost everything, including political journalism, with host of ABC's Insiders, Barrie Cassidy.

Podcast is here.