☕️ Vic Govt's new bill on intersex children

Is anyone playing Whamageddon? It’s an international game where players try to go as long as possible without hearing the Christmas classic “Last Christmas” by WHAM. It starts on 1 December and runs through till 24 December. You’re out as soon as you hear and recognise the song.

My tip: Ask other people to do your shopping for you so you can avoid grocery stores. Simple!

“We'll have more to say about Lemon8 this week, so stay tuned.”Communications Minister Anika Wells when asked about apps under the under-16 social media ban. Lemon8 is “powered by TikTok” and is one of several social media apps teenagers are planning to use an alternative to banned apps, according to 7News.

$US1.6 billion ($AU2.44 billion)
The amount of money the UN is owed in member dues, with 48 member states having not paid their full dues for 2025, including the U.S. and Russia. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he has "repeatedly appealed" to member states for full and timely payments. As a result, Guterres said that the UN is operating below budgets.

Flibbertigibbet (flib-ber-tee-jib-et)
Definition: A silly person who talks too much.
Sentence: My classmate is a flibbertigibbet.

The Federal Government is seeking to increase penalties for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers who harm people in their care.

Under a new bill, the penalty for a new category of “aggravated” offences, such as if a client is injured or dies, would be a 4,000% increase on the existing maximum fine.

Unregistered providers could face jail time under the changes.

Advocates welcomed the introduction of the bill as a first step.

The NDIS provides support and services for Australians with disability.

This includes access to community services, such as doctors, and assistance for necessary support, such as vehicle modifications.

It was launched in 2013 and completely rolled out by 2020. There are now more than 750,000 Australians who receive support from the NDIS.

The Government introduced its bill in the final Parliamentary sitting week of the year, last week.

It would increase penalties for providers “whose failures cause the death or serious injury of a participant under their care” from $400,000 to $16.5 million.

Providers found to be operating without registration could face criminal convictions, including jail time.

Companies caught falsely advertising what products are covered under NDIS could also face fines of up to $400,000.

NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister said the bill “establishes new powers to hold those shonks and criminals to account.”

McAllister added that the changes are “about keeping NDIS participants safe.”

The bill will be debated when Parliament returns in February 2026.

Australia’s peak body for disability organisations, National Disability Services (NDS), said the changes were “welcome news”.

The group said: “While some measures flagged in earlier consultations have been included, others... have been shelved for now.”

Among the measures NDS flagged were not included are penalties for key personnel, like board members.

Reporting by Emily Donohoe.

The Victorian Government has introduced a bill to ban unnecessary surgeries and treatments on children born with variations in sex characteristics, often referred to as intersex.

The State Government says this change will give intersex people “agency over their own body,” following reports of harm and trauma caused by ”inappropriate and unnecessary medical interventions.”

If passed, this would make Victoria the second Australian jurisdiction to enshrine these protections into law, following the ACT in 2023.

Around 1.7% of people are born intersex, meaning they have traits that don‘t fit typical male or female definitions.

This might involve reproductive organs, chromosomes, and hormones. They can be apparent in infancy, or arise during puberty or adulthood.

Being intersex is different from being transgender or gender diverse, which relates to gender identity rather than characteristics diagnosable from birth.

In Australia, doctors can recommend surgical treatment for infants with intersex characteristics.

LGBTQIA+ advocacy organisation Equality Australia has found surgery is often performed for non-medical reasons, including “parental distress/confusion” or “cosmetic justifications.”

The organisation also said many intersex people “live with the consequences of decisions they had no real part in — and which could have waited until they were old enough to decide for themselves.”

In October 2021, the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) urged all Australian governments to ban unnecessary medical interventions on intersex people without their consent.

Following this advice, the ACT Government implemented a ban in 2023. The Victorian Government has since committed to a similar ban.

If passed, the new legislation would prohibit permanent medical treatments on children who are too young to consent, as long as it is safe to wait.

The Victorian Government said parents of intersex children currently have limited information and support when making decisions about treatment.

It said the new law would ensure parents are provided with:

Parents will still give final consent for their child’s treatment. However, an independent expert panel will also review treatments when:

If a proposed treatment is not approved by the panel, it will only be able to take place once the child is old enough to give consent.

Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas introduced the bill to Parliament on Tuesday.

Thomas said: “This is an important step forward for people born with variations in sex characteristics and their families — who for too long have not had the fair and proper legal recognition of their rights.”

If passed, implementation will take place over several years, allowing time to develop resources and educate health services and families.

Reporting by Elliot Lawry.

We don't know about you, but when it’s hot outside, we’re craving food that’s fresh, delicious and satisfying. Luckily, Betty’s Burgers has you covered this summer.

From burgers to bowls, Betty’s uses real ingredients, made to order, leaving you ready to enjoy the sunshine and make the most of the summer.

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Head to Betty’s Burgers to try today or skip the queue and order via the Betty’s app here.

The research into modern domestic dog DNA was led by the American Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Scientists analysed more than 2,700 genetic samples from wolf and domestic dog breeds to map their evolution. They found that around 80% of breeds still contained recent wolf DNA, despite crossbreeding that occurred around 1,000 generations ago. Bigger dogs and hunting breeds were more likely to have the most recent wolf ancestry. However, St. Bernard dogs (a large breed) have no traceable wolf ancestry compared to the chihuahuas, which have about 0.2% wolf ancestry. The American Museum of Natural History said the findings suggest “that dog genomes can ‘tolerate’ wolf DNA up to an unknown level and still remain the dogs we know and love.”

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Reporting by Anju Dhanushkodi.

Baby Jesus has been stolen from his manger in Brussels. 

Belgian media reported the theft of an unconventional baby Jesus from a nativity scene in the capital’s central square, Grand-Place. 

‘Fabrics of the Nativity’ was created by designer Victoria-Maria, with Mary, Joseph and Jesus crafted without facial features.

Belgian Reformist Movement MP Georges-Louis Bouchez started a petition demanding the “faceless characters [that] look more like a tribute to the zombies” be replaced.

One day after the petition was shared on X, local media shared that baby Jesus was stolen from the nativity scene.

Baby Jesus has reportedly been replaced, while security has tightened up around the festive display. 

Reporting by Emily Donohoe

Australia’s medicines regulator has issued a safety alert for Ozempic and similar drugs over a potential risk of suicidal thoughts. The updated warning follows a spike in reports of suicidal ideation linked to weight-loss medications to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Today, we’ll explore what led to this moment and what it means for patients.