With no campfire skills, Aussies are playing with fire
The fact that three quarters of Australians lack confidence in their campfire skills may explain why one in 10 bushfires are caused by campfire negligence.
safety of citizens
Electric shock: hybrids, not EVs, pose pedestrian risk
They may be quieter and heavier than petrol cars but electric vehicles are not more likely to crash into a pedestrian or to cause serious injury.
disaster and accident
earthquake
economy, business and finance
emergency incident
natural disasters
safety of citizens
Japan lifts tsunami warning after 7.5-magnitude quake
Japanese authorities are warning of the heightened possibility of mega-quake for a week after a powerful tremblor hit off the coast of the main Honshu island.
computing and information technology
internet
mass media
media
online
regulatory policy and organisation
safety of citizens
social issue
technology (general)
Court challenge delay clears path for social media ban
Australia's social media age restrictions will kick in as planned, with a High Court challenge to the ban pushed into the new year.
‘Inconvenient’ childcare close times to keep kids safe
Childcare centres will close early every couple of months for staff to undergo mandatory training in a bid to provide a safer environment for kids.
Snap decision: another social app issues age warnings
Snapchat is the latest social media app to issue warnings to young Australian users and will ask thousands of people to verify their age.
children
computing and information technology
game
internet
mass media
media
online
politics
safety of citizens
social issue
technology (general)
teen-agers
Roblox reforms over ‘playground for pedophiles’ concern
Australian authorities demanded changes from a major US gaming platform over concerns it was being used to groom and exploit children.
Bosses quit at scandal-plagued childcare giant
The top brass of one of the biggest childcare providers in Australia have resigned after a series of safety scandals.
Social media ban could pull the plug on young artists
YouTube warns blocking young people from accessing its platform will lead to unintended consequences for online safety and hinder emerging talent.
accident (general)
auto trends
litigation and regulation
regulatory policy and organisation
road transport
safety of citizens
transport
Ratings system to help drivers navigate road safety
How safe are the roads you regularly travel? A free online tool ranks most major arterial roads out of five stars and its maker plans to expand it.
Why AI-powered cameras are watching Australian forests
Artificial intelligence technology will be deployed in more Australian forests in an investment inspired by the devastating Black Summer bushfires.
Self-driving car forecasts speed up after Tesla launch
Australia could become a major testbed for autonomous vehicles if efforts to develop a national set of road rules for their use are successful.
Taking the wheel: drivers may soon supervise their cars
Self-driving cars are being tested on Australian roads but motorists and experts are divided about whether they will drive greater safety or greater problems.
People prioritised as wildlife-killing shark nets stay
Only about 10 per cent of animals caught up in the nation's largest shark net program were targeted species, a report reveals following a fatal attack.
Vicious cycles: national push to slow electric bikes
Cycling groups say high-powered and illegally modified e-bikes are increasingly being used in Australia and stricter, national rules are needed to save lives.
Thousands of electric SUVs recalled over injury risk
One of Australia's most popular electric vehicle brands has been subject to a product recall over a fault with one of its safety systems.
Childcare reforms count on tech too much to stop abuse
Childcare workers will be placed under greater monitoring and supervision but experts say deeper issues within the sector are enabling predatory behaviour.
No ‘idle threat’: childcare on notice as reforms agreed
Education ministers have agreed to a national CCTV trial in childcare centres, a workers register and mandatory training as providers are warned to shape up.
Call to slow city traffic amid rising pedestrian deaths
More pedestrians are being killed in road accidents across the nation, figures have revealed, leading calls for urgent speed limit reductions.
Lost trust prompts swift overhaul for childcare checks
A state premier has promised to overhaul childcare safeguards after admitting parents' trust has been shattered by "horrific" allegations of abuse.
computing and information technology
fire
natural disasters
research
research and development
safety of citizens
science and technology
software
technology (general)
AI-powered, heat-seeking satellites target Aussie fires
Bushfires in the Northern Territory are among the first captured by an artificially intelligent satellite designed to detect and record danger from above.
Man fights for life as elderly driver rules questioned
There are calls for national testing rules for elderly drivers after a car driven by a 91-year-old driver ploughed into two adults and a child, killing a woman.
accident (general)
crime, law and justice
emergency incident
police
road accident
safety of citizens
senior citizens
Pedestrian tragedy sparks elderly driver test review
A state government is considering rule changes for elderly drivers after a female pedestrian was killed and a man and child seriously injured in a car crash.
abusive behaviour
children
crime, law and justice
parent and child
politics
preschool
safety of citizens
Calls grow to back safety over access in childcare
After shocking allegations of abuse, parents have grown hesitant to send their kids to childcare, prompting calls to prioritise child safety rather than access.
‘No other option’: desperate plea from stranded Aussies
As Australians return home from the Middle East, a family stranded in Iran says it has no way to flee after receiving advice to cross international borders.
Women’s ‘safety premium’ for solo travel peace of mind
Women travelling solo are paying more for safer accommodation and tours as the travel industry adjusts to a growing cohort of those going it alone.
Strip clubs to education hubs hacked in password grab
Online criminals have compromised thousands of websites, including those of Australian businesses, in an attempt to steal users' passwords.
Plea for drivers to stop taking risks as deaths soar
The road toll in one state spiked by 10 over a deadly Mother's Day weekend as authorities beg "entitled" motorists to stay safe.
How AI is being weaponised to attack Aussie businesses
Australia is among the world's biggest targets for online attacks and artificial intelligence technology is making intrusions harder to detect.
computing and information technology
internet
it/computer sciences
litigation and regulation
political campaigns
politics
regulatory policy and organisation
safety of citizens
science and technology
survey
technology (general)
Aussies prompt politicians for real action on AI rules
More than two-in-three Australians want restrictions on artificial intelligence technology, but the issue has not been raised in election campaigning.
business (general)
consumers
internet
laws
litigation and regulation
networking
regulatory policy and organisation
safety of citizens
satellite and cable service
technology (general)
telecommunication equipment
telecommunication service
Is it down? Strict rules for telcos that suffer outages
Phone and internet users will be given more details when their services drop out under rules imposed on telecommunication providers.