Does Australia need its own commission of inquiry into its decision to invade Iraq?

This week, the Chilcot inquiry heard testimonies from several key figures involved in the British government’s decision to go to war—providing evidence that has questioned the legal, strategic and moral justification for the invasion.

The very public inquiry in London has spurred calls in Australia for a similar investigation.

Australia's involvement in the Iraq deployment in 2003 was very unpopular and some believe may have been a breach of international law.

This report from 2SER's Michael Kermode.

This week, saw the Electoral Commission release its annual disclosure of who’s been giving money to Australia’s political parties and just how much they’ve given.

As usual, there was controversy with both of politics pointing the finger at the other and painting their opponents as beholden to special interests.

But at the heart of funding disclosure are larger problems of public accountability and a stalled program of legislative reforms, as 2SER’s Nic Christensen discovered when spoke with John Warhurst, Political Science Lecturer at Australian National University.

More farmers are expected to grow genetically manipulated canola crops, after the West Australia government lifted a ban on its production earlier this week.

But a new survey from Swinburne University has found that Australians remain very uncomfortable about eating GM foods and mistrustful of institutions that commercialize them.

Lauren Day spoke with Bob Phelps, the Director of "Gene Ethics" about what the changes might mean for public opinion of genetic modification…

The community radio sector’s peak body, the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, has announced staff cuts due to financial difficulties.

Two full time positions have been made redundant.

The cutbacks, they say, can be attributed to the tightening economy during the global financial crisis.

The Association has experienced a significant fall in revenue from membership fees and other sources, including sponsorship.

So does this mean there are new challenges facing community broadcasting in Australia?

2SER’s Ann Deslandes reports.

This week, the state government announced a complete restructuring of the fare system for Sydney’s public transport.

The government says that the new system, known as ‘MyZone’, will simplify the fare system while leaving 90% of fares the same price or cheaper.

However the fare overhaul is only the first step in introducing a fully integrated ticketing system, 13 years after one was first promised to commuters.

In that time, the department responsible for the failed T-Card debacle has racked up a 74 million dollar debt.

The group ‘Action for Public Transport’ says that ‘Myzone’ may see years of costings and analysis by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal wasted.

2SER’s Carrie Fellner has more.

As the debate over legalizing same-sex marriage gathers steam, figures released this week found that Australia’s ban is potentially costing the economy over $700 million.

Australian Marriage Equality, an organisation campaigning for gay and lesbian rights, calculated that the refusal to acknowledge gay marriage as legal, is pushing same-sex couples to wed overseas.

With the average wedding costing $28,000 the group says the law is both unfair and bad for nations economy.

Australian Marriage Equality spokesperson, Alex Greenwich, crunched some of the numbers with 2SER’s Jennifer Lush.

New medical research from the United States indicates a reduction of salt in diets across the population could be just as beneficial as interventions aimed at stopping people smoking.

With three days remaining in Salt Awareness Week, Australians have been encouraged to reduce their daily salt intake in order to help prevent chronic disease.

Salt is a major contributor to high blood pressure, which causes more deaths than any other condition.

2SER’s Justin Cinque caught up with Doctor Tim Mathew from Kidney Health Australia,

Starting in May of this year consumers who signed up to a Do Not Call Register to avoid being contacted by telemarketers will be removed from the list because their three-year registration will expire.

But there have been calls from consumer groups to allow people to remain on the list permanently rather than having to re-apply every three years.

Countries like the United States, Spain, Britain and India have similar systems to Australia but allow permanent registration.

The Federal Government is currently conducting a review of the system but is concerned that disconnected numbers could clog a permanent system.

2SER’s Justin Cinque spoke to Sarah Wilson from the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network.

This week, Sydney Council announced its plans to transform the troubled Taylor Square Hotel and T2 nightclub in Darlinghurst into a ‘cycling hub’ for locals.

The buildings were purchased after years of complaints about drunk and disorderly behaviour in the area.

The Darlinghurst Business Partnership has welcomed the move, with hopes that it will revitalize daytime business in Oxford Street.

But its president, Andrew Duckmanton, says this is just the first step in addressing a much larger problem - developing Sydney’s daytime precincts.

He’s speaking here with 2SER’s Carrie Fellner.

Environment Minister Peter Garrett has changed his mind on banning short and long-fin, mako and porbeagle shark fishing.

Mr. Garrett says when Parliament resumes, the Government will reverse the ban on recreational fishing of the three species.

But the move has angered environmental groups concerned with protecting threatened species, as well as recreational fishing groups, who see it as a pointless political exercise.

2SER’s David Fanner has the story.

A new study has ranked Sydney with the least affordable housing market in the world, second only to Vancouver.

Generally, if buyers spend more than 35% of their gross income on their housing repayments they are considered to be in mortgage stress.

In Sydney the average spent is 50%.

The Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey looked at over 270 markets and found that Melbourne and Adelaide were also some of the most expensive cities.

Out of the six countries surveyed Australia was the least affordable.

The government is being called to solve this housing problem.

2SER’s Alexia Attwood spoke to the president of Save our Suburbs, Tony Recsei.

Has scientific progress reached a cultural nadir?

Is important scientific research grinding to a halt?

Is the current system of funding actually stifling scientific discovery?

These are some of the troubling questions posed by Professor Donald Braben of University College London.

In his recent book, Scientific Freedom:The Elixir of Civilization, he suggests that finding another Newton or Einstein will be very unlikely in 2010.

Joel Werner reports.

A nine per cent rise in children being placed in out-of-home care in Australia has been reported by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

In the past twelve months, more than thirty-four thousand children were removed from their family home.

They were placed in new living arrangements, such as foster care, because of abuse or neglect.

The rising number has put the spotlight on a current Federal Government project to develop national standards for the provision and conduct of out-of-home care.

The "Create Foundation" is an organization that has been advocating for children in out-of-home care for the past fifteen years.

This report from 2SER’s Ann Deslandes begins with the groups CEO, Jacqui Reed.

Amid heavy flag-waving earlier this week, Australia Day was shadowed by talk of whether January 26 is the most appropriate date to celebrate our national day.

The date is seen by some as disrespectful towards indigenous people, because it's also the anniversary of colonisation.

For many, the day is better known as “invasion day” or “survival day”.

Proponents believe that changing the date could provide a more inclusive celebration for indigenous people, and make the day a better opportunity for reconciliation.

2ser’s Michael Kermode filed this report.

Politicians are often drawn into debates on moral questions.

And this week was no exception, as Tony Abbott discovered when he set off a media firestorm over comments he made to a women’s magazine on the issue of teenage virginity.

The comments drew criticism from a variety of sources – who argued that Mr Abbott’s views are out of date and unwelcome.

2SER’s Nic Christensen reports on the controversy and why it is politicians are pulled into such morality questions.

Two weeks after the devastating earthquake in HAITI, attention is slowly moving away from emergency relief, to the question of long term rebuilding.

Aid agencies have called for the international community to cancel all Haiti’s debts of around one billion US dollars.

World leaders meeting at a special conference in Montreal this week, pledged significant financial aid to Haiti,

The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also voiced her support for writing off Haiti's debts.

The Executive Director of Oxfam, Andrew Hewett, spoke with 2SER's Lauren Day.

Greenhouse gas emissions have decreased in all the eastern states of Australia over the past year.

And according to non-government organisation, ‘The Climate Group’, NSW has cut back by the most, reducing its emissions by 3.1 per cent. .

But the findings have sparked debate over the reasons behind the cuts.

Rupert Posner, the Director of the Climate Group, says they reflect the growing use of natural gas instead of coal.

But others say they were almost entirely caused by external factors, such as the economic downturn and warmer weather.

2SER’s Carrie Fellner reports.

A new study by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre has shown sniffer dogs to be ineffective against drug smuggling.

The study revealed that half the ecstasy users surveyed said that the presence of sniffer dogs at an event would not deter them from using drugs.

Drug detection experts have warned that often the use of sniffer dogs at public events, such as the Big Day Out, taking place in Sydney today, can cause more harm than good.

2SER’s Alexia Attwood spoke to Dr Matthew Dunn, the co-author of the report from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.

The refusal of a judge to sentence a man to home detention because of the risks to his mental health has put the spotlight on this form of punishment in Australia.

Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge says she will not be sentencing anyone to home detention in the future, having been confronted with the suicides of home detainees during her previous role as a coroner.

So is home detention any more likely than prison to contribute to the poor mental health of those sentenced?

2SER’s Ann Deslandes spoke with Marietta Martinovic, an expert on home detention at RMIT University in Melbourne.

Lawyers have rejected a Federal Government proposal to increase consumer protection for legal services.

In recent years the legal profession has been strongly criticised for overcharging clients, which has lead to a government inquiry.

But now Lawyers groups are opposing moves to more tightly regulate the area.

Consumer bodies have reacted angrily saying the Rudd government should introduce a tough new national system to control excess fees.

2SER’s Alexia Attwood spoke to Nicole Rich, the Director of Policy at the Consumer Action Law Centre in Victoria.

Australians have just under $1.2 trillion dollars invested in their superannuation accounts.

But do we ever think about where that money is invested?

This week, Australia’s largest super fund, Australian Super changed their rules on socially responsible investments.

According to critics, the changes open the door to investments in companies that make their profits from the sale of alcohol, tobacco, gambling, uranium mining and even weapons manufacture.

2SER’s Nic Christensen reports.

Prince William’s visit this week has rekindled debate over whether Australia should become a republic or stick with the British monarchy.

There were mixed messages from the Rudd government over whether a second referendum will go ahead on the issue, despite previous promises.

And while much of the mainstream media gave the prince full marks for his charm offensive, not everyone is celebrating.

2SER's Michael Kermode reports.

This week, a working party set up by the state government recommended the "artistic merit" defence should be scrapped from child pornography laws.

The move has reignited the debate over art censorship in NSW.

Child protection campaigners have welcomed the recommendation as a step forward in fighting child exploitation.

But arts lobby groups have claimed that removing the defence will result in a culture of fear and self-censorship for artists.

2SER’s Carrie Fellner reports.

Research published this week has confirmed that sitting down and watching too much television is indeed, bad for your health.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, found a link between sitting down for extended periods, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and premature death.

Professor David Dunstan is an author of the study, conducted by the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne.

He says that the risks to health exist whether or not periods of sitting down are balanced with an otherwise active lifestyle.

He spoke with 2SER’s Michael Kermode.

Police and forest rangers are investigating the illegal killing of hundreds of Brumbies in the Snowy Mountains district in the last 18 months.

The most recent slaying happened over Christmas near Tumbarumba, where 10 brumbies, including one foal, were found dead with bullet wounds.

Rangers who were first called to the scene called the slaughter, heartbreaking and disturbing.

But, it seems not everyone is upset by the killings.

Some people regard the horses as pests.

Farmers dislike them as they compete with stock for grazing while ecologists claim they cause erosion in our National Parks and are harming native flora.

This report from 2ser's Jessica Bineth begins with Jan Carter, the CEO of "Save Our Brumbies".

Google is threatening to exit China and stop cooperating with their policies surrounding internet censorship.

Recent cyber attacks directed at human rights activists from China has prompted this discussion.

Google’s past compliance with China has caused criticism, but if google's threat is carried out it could suffer long term economic impact.

2SER’s Alexia Attwood spoke to Colin Jacobs, the Vice Chair of Electronic Frontiers Australia.

The New South Wales Government has ignored recommendations made in a parliamentary inquiry and decided not to allow same-sex couples to adopt children.

According to the inquiry, changing the law would ensure the best interests of the child are met but the Government believes there is not enough community support for the move.

Gay groups say the existing law is discriminatory and unfair.

2SER’s Justin Cinque spoke to Kellie McDonald, the co-convener for the Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby.

He asked why she thought the Keneally government has taken this approach.

Extensive protest action by students and staff of the University of California, Berkeley, shows no sign of abating, with planned strikes now entering their fourth month.

High profile academics including George Lakoff, Judith Butler and Wendy Brown have been among the protesters.

The UC movement, as it has become known, erupted in response to the University's decision to further privatise the institution and raise tuition fees by up to thirty two per cent.

Campuses in other parts of the United States and in Europe have staged protests in solidarity, saying that there is a global crisis in the provision of public education.

2SER's Ann Deslandes reports on the implications of the UC movement for universities in Australia.

The Australian fashion industry has decided to do away with its “NO SWEAT SHOP” clothing label, in favour of a tag that is seen as less confronting.

From next year, the No Sweat Shop label will be called “Ethical Clothing Australia”.

The label gives accreditation to clothing companies who guarantee proper pay and conditions for garment makers.

At the same time the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Industry is also considering a new logo to indicate ethical standards including animal welfare.

2SER’s Alexia Attwood spoke to Tommy Clarke, from the Homeworker‘s code of practice organisation.

This week, Greens MP, Lee Rhiannon, called for the introduction of a system of proportional representation in the NSW lower house.

The call is Rhiannon’s contribution to the current debate over fixed-term parliaments which means elections are only held every 4 years in NSW.

Both the Sydney Morning Herald and the Daily Telegraph are campaigning for an end to 4 year terms and say voters want to kick Labour out early.

Rhiannon doesn't support the move saying it wouldn't make our system more democratic.

Instead, she favours proportional representation which operates in several countries around the world.

2SER’s Fergus Grieve reports.

The Chinese President Hu Jintao has indicated that modifying aspects of China’s social policy is the key to genuine economic reform.

The Hukou system is a policy in China that controls the residential movement of people within the country.

There have been growing calls to reform the system, as China struggles with the social effects of a widening rural-urban divide,.

Jane Want spoke with Dr David Bray, a senior lecturer from the Department of Social Policy at the University of Sydney, about Hukuo and what these proposed changes will actually mean for China’s future.

More than four hours after the scheduled end of the Copenhagen climate summit, a non-legally binding political deal has been announced US President Barack Obama.

The text was approved after final meetings between US, China, India and South Africa and will be put to a consensus vote by the 194 nations present at the summit.

It comes after a week of political wrangling between richer and poorer nations resulted in a deadlock.

Environmentalists and commentators have warned the public to be on guard against a greenwash agreement.

2ser’s Biwa Kwan reports.

Online identify theft costs the national economy more than $1 billion a year.

But Australians continue to be lax about their internet security, according to Gordon Maddern, a senior security consultant at the company, “Pure Hacking”.

He says most Australians choose passwords that are obvious and easy to guess, even though this puts them at high risk of online attacks.

2SER’s Carrie Fellner has more.

The Mental Health Charity SANE Australia has just released a report analysing complaints about the portrayal of mental illness in the media.

The StigmaWatch Report found that about two hundred and fifty complaints were received in the year to October and a quarter of them related to the media’s reporting of schizophrenia.

More than twenty per cent of the complaints concerned sensationalised reporting which perpetuated violent or dangerous stereotypes.

But the media is improving its handling of mental health issues with SANE receiving more than fifty examples of good news reports.

2SER's Justin Cinque spoke to Barbara Hocking, the executive director of SANE Australia.

The Vatican is expected to rule in the near future that a woman was cured of leukaemia due to the intercession of Mary MacKillop.

This means that there would be two miracles attributed to the pioneering nun, who founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph, an order of nuns dedicated to educating children from working class families.

Two miracles is what it takes to be considered for canonization as a saint within the Catholic church.

2SER’s Ann Deslandes asked some Australian Catholic women about the significance of Mary MacKillop’s imminent sainthood.