Are we all awake now that September has ended?

The quote
"There have been multiple hands involved and there remains so much surrounding the life and death of my brother Tupac and our Shakur family overall. We are seeking real justice, on all fronts.” - Sekyiwa Shakur on the announcement that charges have been laid in relation to the murder of her brother, rapper Tupac Shakur, in 1996.

The stat
2
The number of deaths recorded at Knockout Outdoor music festival in Sydney over the weekend.

Today in history
2018: The Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi is killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

Some headlines from this morning:

Early voting for the Indigenous Voice referendum begins in Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory today.

It will open in the remaining Australian jurisdictions tomorrow (due to the public holiday today).

Who can vote early?
If you are planning on voting early, you'll be asked to provide a reason. However, you will not be asked to provide documentation for your reason.

Reasons could include working, travelling, or being out of your electorate on referendum day (14 October).

The opening hours of early polling centres will vary, but they will generally be open from Mondays to Fridays.

You can also apply for a postal vote via the AEC website. Overseas voters are also eligible for postal voting.

Postal vote applications close at 6pm on 11 October.

Ballot papers sent via postal voting packs must be completed by 6pm on 14 October, and received by the AEC no later than 27 October.

Where is early voting?
Not every voting centre open on referendum day will be open for early voting.

An interactive map displaying polling places available for early voting, and on referendum day, is available on the AEC website.

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability released its final report on Friday.

After four and a half years of public and private hearings, the inquiry has released a final report spanning 13 volumes.

It includes evidence and experiences from over 9,000 disability community representatives.

Why was it called?
A Federal Senate inquiry into institutional abuse and neglect of people with disability in 2015 recommended the Government set up a Royal Commission.

Royal Commissions are independent of the government of the day. They have strong powers to talk to witnesses, request information, and consult with experts.

This Royal Commission was set up in April 2019 to broadly investigate violence against, and exploitation of, Australians with disability.

What did it find?
The Royal Commission found people with disability are subject to higher rates of violence, neglect, and abuse than Australians without disability.

It found the Government has failed to protect people with disability, despite Australia's international human rights commitments.

The Commission heard people with disability experience persistent violence and abuse throughout their lives.

It found that people with different styles of communication, women with intellectual disability, First Nations women, and those who were abused in childhood are at high risk of life-long mistreatment.

These impacts were not limited to one generation; those who were removed from their families as young children often had their own children removed from them. This was especially true for First Nations parents with disability.

First Nations people
The report found First Nations people experience "unique marginalisation" stemming from the ongoing impacts of colonisation and racism.

It suggested this marginalisation is made worse by a lack of culturally aware care.

First Nations people told the Commission there is a gap between the Western medical understanding of disability and traditional cultural practices, "particularly the focus on individual impairment over collective wellbeing."

Human rights
The Commission noted Australia has signed multiple international human rights treaties, including one specifically targeted at protecting people with disability. It found, however, that "many human rights of people with disability are not being realised in practice in Australia."

Gi Brown, a young person with disability, told the Commission many struggle to access healthcare, food, water, housing, and income.

"We aren’t having our basic human rights and our needs met and respected, so how would you expect us to… flourish in life?"

You can read about the recommendations made by the Royal Commission here.

Get all the news you need to know today in your ears on The Daily Aus podcast!

A new electric blue spider has been discovered in Thailand. It’s considered especially significant as the colour blue is one of the rarest colours found in nature.

The team who found the spider will now auction off the right to name the species to raise money for charity.

What’s the only thing that can stop Wall Street Bankers breaking the rules and making a tonne of money? Reddit users in their parents' basement.

That’s what you need to know when you watch the brand new comedy, "Dumb Money," inspired by the 2021 GameStop short squeeze. It’s a classic David and Goliath story - a group of amateur online investors drove up the share price of GameStop when Wall St bet it was going to crumble, turning it into the world’s hottest company and getting rich in the process.

Brought to you by the director of "I, TONYA" and "CRUELLA," and featuring a stacked cast including Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Shailene Woodley, America Ferrera and Seth Rogen, the true story of "Dumb Money" is set to be one of the funniest films of the year. Catch it in cinemas from October 26!

A woman is suing Disney World, reportedly claiming she sustained an "injurious wedgie” while on a ride. According to People, Emma McGuinness is seeking $US50,000 in damages after she suffered injuries while sliding down the Humunga Kowabunga slide.

I won’t recount the details contained in the lawsuit because it is painful to even read, but McGuinness is claiming she was transported to a local hospital for immediate care and then later, another hospital for repair of her injuries by a specialist.

Her lawyers claim that Disney did not disclose the reasonable risk she faced, and that it failed to meet the expectations of a reasonable consumer.

Ouch!

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