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Entire town bans annoying influencers from entering its borders

In the serene hamlet of Pomfret, Vermont, an extraordinary decision has been reached to combat the overwhelming presence of influencers and tourists who have inundated the town's peaceful streets. This picturesque countryside haven, renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, has taken the audacious step of barring entry to all influencers and tourists. Pomfret, nestled in the heart of New England, has long been a magnet for visitors seeking to capture the exquisite autumnal tapestry that paints the town in warm, rustic hues – a perfect setting for their coveted "fall" photographs. Vermont, as a whole, typically draws more than 13 million tourists annually, and Pomfret, with its population of a mere 916, has witnessed a significant influx during the autumn months, particularly September and October. While the town has a history of welcoming tourists, the character of these visitors has undergone a profound transformation in the last half-decade. Gone are the days of nature enthusiasts and out-of-town guests staying at cozy local bed-and-breakfasts. Pomfret is now attracting a new breed of visitor: the social media luminaries eagerly hunting for content to grace their online profiles. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> ‘Christian Girl Autumn’ influencer Caitlin Covington announces she is going to Vermont in October to take her annual Fall photos. 🍂 <a href="https://t.co/nZjRCWvPIE">pic.twitter.com/nZjRCWvPIE</a> — Pop Crave (@PopCrave) <a href="https://twitter.com/PopCrave/status/1703840317907021849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2023</a></blockquote> Mike Doten, a resident whose family has deep roots in the area, humorously dubs this emerging group "TikTockers" and cites them as the catalyst behind this drastic measure. Cloudland Road, a narrow, unpaved stretch renowned for its spectacular views of picturesque farms, rolling hills and vibrant foliage, was once a tranquil destination for nature enthusiasts. However, it has now become an internet sensation and a must-visit spot for "leaf-peepers" across the state. Unfortunately, this newfound fame has brought a series of issues in its wake. The new wave of tourists is often described as rude, disrespectful, impatient and selfish. They go to great lengths to capture the perfect photograph or video, often disregarding the impact on those around them. Local farmer Cathy Emmons recounted an incident where an influencer trespassed onto private property, erecting a makeshift changing booth and emerging in different outfits for her selfies. There have also been reports of tourists casually invading farms and helping themselves to produce, with one individual spotted plucking tomatoes from Cathy's farm. Another resident recalled a particularly unsettling incident when a drone hovered just feet above his head during an evening dinner with his family. In a separate incident, a tourist parked illegally in a resident's driveway and, astonishingly, used the garden shed as a makeshift toilet. The surge in tour buses and cars has caused gridlock on Pomfret's narrow roads, rendering them impassable and obstructing the movement of emergency vehicles. In response, the local council issued a memo announcing road closures to motor vehicle traffic from September 23rd to October 15th, specifically targeting Cloudland Road in Pomfret and the entire length of Cloudland Road in Woodstock, both heavily frequented tourist areas. Furthermore, the town has implemented temporary parking restrictions, signage and barriers. The memo cited concerns related to safety, environmental impact, aesthetics, and overall quality of life, emphasising a comprehensive effort to address these issues in collaboration with residents, local government partners and through communication on various information platforms. These traffic mitigation measures will also restrict access to the famed Sleepy Hollow Farm, a private residence that has become a hotspot for influencers seeking the perfect selfie backdrop. In response to these challenges, local residents have launched a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-cloudland-road" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe campaign titled "Save Cloudland Road"</a> to raise funds for road closures and traffic enforcement during the autumn season. The campaign's description highlights the surge of Instagram and TikTok-driven tourists, many of whom derive income from sponsorships and have transformed a private residence on Cloudland Road into a sought-after social media photo destination. The influx has led to overcrowding, accidents, damage to roads, gardens, and private property, as well as confrontations with residents. Can the community surrounding Cloudland Road, in partnership with the towns of Pomfret and Woodstock, restore tranquility, safety and civility to their cherished enclave? Their plea is clear: to regain peace for the families who call this idyllic corner of Vermont home. Images: GoFundMe / Instagram

Travel Trouble

See inside the top-secret museum you can’t enter

While most museums aim to educate the public, there’s one that most of us won’t be allowed to enter that holds artefacts that have shaped key historical moments - and it’s located in the headquarters of the CIA. The US intelligence agency has its very own in-house museum at its headquarters in Langley, Virginia, with a collection recently renovated to mark its 75th anniversary. According to the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63023876" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a>, whose journalists were among a select group given access during a media tour, the 600 artefacts on display include everything from old-school spy gadgets to models of the compound that housed Osama bin Laden. The Cold War gadgets included the likes of a ‘dead drop rat’, in which messages could be hidden, a covert camera inside a cigarette packet, an exploding martini glass and even a pigeon with its own spy camera. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/cia-display.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> A pipe radio receiver is among the hundreds of items on display in the museum. Image: Getty Images Some artefacts have never gone on display before, such as a model of the sunken Soviet K-129 submarine created for the expedition the CIA embarked on with billionaire Howard Hughes to recover the ship. That mission was only partially successful since the submarine broke apart while a ship called the Gomar Explorer was trying to bring it up from the ocean’s depths. "Most of what they found aboard that submarine is still classified to this day," Robert Z Byer, the museum’s director, told the BBC. The mission also marked the creation of an iconic phrase the CIA still uses; after news broke of the mission before the rest of the submarine could be extracted, officials were told to say they could “neither confirm nor deny” what had happened. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/cia-display1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> A model of the K-129 submarine was created by the CIA during the mission to recover the sunken Soviet vessel and has never been displayed before. Image: Central Intelligence Agency Others have only been declassified recently, including a model of the compound where al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed earlier this year. The model was used to brief President Joe Biden on the proposed mission. Though the museum moves chronologically through the CIA’s successes and failures, including the failed Bay of Pigs mission to overthrow Fidel Castro, some of the agency’s more controversial acts are less visible, such as the 1953 joint operation with Mi6 to overthrow a democratically-elected government in Iran, or recent involvement in the torture of terrorist suspects after 9/11. The museum’s visitors are restricted to CIA staff and official visitors, with Mr Byer saying it serves to educate CIA officers on the agency’s history. "This museum is not just a museum for history's sake. This is an operational museum,” he explained. “We are taking CIA officers [through it], exploring our history, both good and bad," says Mr Byer. "We make sure that our officers understand their history, so that they can do a better job in the future. We have to learn from our successes and our failures in order to be better in the future." While the public isn’t allowed to visit it currently, officials say some exhibits will be available to view online. Images of the museum are also expected to be shared on social media, with the aim being that members of the public are given the chance to unscramble the various coded messages displayed on the museum’s ceilings. Image: Getty Images

International Travel

Man shot dead after trying to enter school

A man who was seen trying to enter a primary school where a summer class was being held has been shot dead by police. Robert Tyler White, 32, was spotted trying to get into numerous doors at Walnut Park Elementary School in Alabama when the principal raised the alarm. A police officer who was working as a school resource officer encountered Robert trying to break into a marked Rainbow City police car near the school. The officer raised the alarm before he was joined by one other colleague who attempted to arrest Robert. The man was then shot dead after resisting and trying to take the police officer’s gun. Officials did not reveal how many times they shot Robert, whether or not he was armed, and whether he was an intruder or passerby. Gadsden City Schools Superintendent Tony Reddick said the school resource officer sustained minor injuries and all 34 children were safe. "Our primary concern was just making sure that someone who wasn't authorised to be in our building does not enter and our kids are safe," he told local media. Image: 7News

News

Alcohol marketing has crossed borders and entered the metaverse – how do we regulate the new digital risk?

The World Health Organization’s newly <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240046504" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released report</a> on regulating cross-border alcohol marketing raises the alarm for countries like Australia and New Zealand, given their light touch towards alcohol advertising. Alcohol is widely consumed in Australasia but there is ongoing tension over how much restraint, if any, should be placed on the marketing of these products. Australia and New Zealand are at the unrestrained end of the marketing continuum. Both countries rely on industry-led policy in the form of voluntary codes – an approach identified as insufficient by the WHO report. What is cross-border alcohol marketing? Alcohol marketing, created and disseminated in one country and spread across borders into others, is commonly used by multinational corporations striving to increase sales and normalise alcohol as an everyday product. Much of this advertising is taking place in the digital media sphere. The increased use of these media platforms by alcohol corporations allows them access to cheap advertising opportunities. For as <a href="https://au.reset.tech/uploads/resettechaustralia_profiling-children-for-advertising-1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">little as US$2</a>, an advertising campaign based in Australia could reach a thousand young people profiled as interested in alcohol, for example. Marketing across digital media has also increased the impact of those messages. Brands interact with users on social media platforms, encouraging the posting, sharing and liking of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33573719/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">branded images and messages</a>. Higher user engagement is associated with <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32079562/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more drinking</a>. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/464113/original/file-20220518-21284-beeqsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/464113/original/file-20220518-21284-beeqsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464113/original/file-20220518-21284-beeqsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464113/original/file-20220518-21284-beeqsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464113/original/file-20220518-21284-beeqsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464113/original/file-20220518-21284-beeqsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464113/original/file-20220518-21284-beeqsu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="AB InBev logo behind a smartphone also showing the logo" /><figcaption>Multinational corporations like AB InBev have been quick to embrace digital platforms as a new way to advertise alcohol products. <a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/in-this-photo-illustration-an-ab-inbev-logo-is-seen-on-a-news-photo/1234971135?adppopup=true" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pavlo Gonchar/Getty Images</a></figcaption></figure> Targeting the individual The increased power of these advertisements reflects the effectiveness of “personalised marketing”. Companies can now target individuals and “look alike” audiences. This approach is made possible thanks to the enormous amount of data collected as we interact together, purchase products and indicate our interests and passions through our clicks and likes. This data is extremely valuable to marketers and alcohol corporations. It gives them insight into the best time of day, the best brand of alcohol and the best type of marketing message to send our way. All groups across society are vulnerable to being bombarded by messages encouraging the purchase and consumption of alcohol. Digital advertising can target everyone: teenagers looking for brands which exemplify their identity; young adults, the heaviest “occasion drinkers” in Australia and New Zealand, some of whom are developing drinking habits that may be hard to change in later life; and adults of all ages who wish to reduce their consumption, often for health reasons. Digital media has become an all-encompassing marketing environment in which the “buy” button – with home delivery and often no checks on age or intoxication – provides a seamless marketing and distribution system. In New Zealand, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/dar.13222" target="_blank" rel="noopener">online sales</a> increased significantly during the COVID-19 lockdowns, particularly among heavier drinkers. Entering the metaverse The alcohol industry is now showing its initiative by entering the emerging <a href="https://www.ypulse.com/article/2022/02/03/metaverse-mansions-more-tiktok-how-brands-are-marketing-for-this-years-super-bowl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">metaverse</a>. To understand the metaverse, <a href="https://thedecisionlab.com/insights/technology/brave-new-world-how-the-metaverse-may-shape-our-psychology" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to one commentator</a>, you should <blockquote> take today’s social media, add a splash of sophisticated 3D, fold in a plethora of options for entertainment and gaming, garnish it all with data-driven personalisation, and you are all set to take away your order of a supersized social media network, the metaverse. </blockquote> In terms of marketing, this provides a new opportunity. The biometric data essential to a virtual reality experience is also available to develop “<a href="https://scholarship.law.vanderbilt.edu/jetlaw/vol23/iss1/1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">biometric psychographics</a>”, allowing for the even greater personalisation of advertising. Virtual alcohol brands created and used by avatars in the metaverse support the development of brand allegiance in real life, and virtual reality will transform e-commerce experiences and increase the power of sponsorship. AB InBev, the largest global alcohol corporation, was an early adopter of the metaverse. One of its brands, <a href="https://sifted.eu/articles/metaverse-brands-nft/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stella Artois</a>, is sponsoring the Australian Zed Run platform on which virtual horses can be raced, bred and traded. The Zed Run platform experienced 1,000% growth in early 2021. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/464116/original/file-20220518-23-f6cjil.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/464116/original/file-20220518-23-f6cjil.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464116/original/file-20220518-23-f6cjil.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464116/original/file-20220518-23-f6cjil.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464116/original/file-20220518-23-f6cjil.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464116/original/file-20220518-23-f6cjil.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/464116/original/file-20220518-23-f6cjil.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Two people stand in front of a screen with a digital image of a horse." /><figcaption>Digital horse racing game Zed Run has exploded in popularity, with alcohol companies using the digital platform to reach a new audience. <a class="source" href="https://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/performers-tyra-cartledge-and-kendall-drury-takes-part-in-a-news-photo/1329475903?adppopup=true" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images</a></figcaption></figure> Regulating to reduce alcohol harm The digital world is extremely dynamic. It is also opaque to most policy makers and public health practitioners. It is telling that there is no reference to the metaverse as a cross-border alcohol marketing opportunity in the WHO report. There is an urgent need for debate regarding how policy makers should better understand the risks involved with the targeted marketing of hazardous products such as alcohol. The WHO report outlines various partial and unsuccessful approaches to regulating marketing in the digital media. Attempts, such as <a href="https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/303690/Alcohol_marketing_on_social_media_sites_in_Finland_and_Sweden_2019.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Finland’s</a> regulation of user-shared branded material, have failed because they did not interfere with the basic architecture of the social media platforms, which is predicated on engagement via sharing and liking. The most successful examples offered by the WHO report have been countries like Norway, which have imposed a complete ban on alcohol marketing including in the digital media. The report emphasises the need for surveillance and enforcement, suggesting ways in which alcohol companies could be penalised for marketing breaches. The support provided by international agreements such as the <a href="https://fctc.who.int/who-fctc/overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Framework Convention on Tobacco Control</a> is identified as a possible template for future discussions. The response to tobacco marketing provides a good and largely effective model for officials and policy makers. That said, the public health goal for alcohol is not equivalent to the smokefree goal. Advocates are not trying to eliminate alcohol altogether. However, there are parallel arguments in favour of creating a healthier media environment through regulation to prevent the promotion of alcohol products via increasingly sophisticated technological and psychological tools. These products are significant causes of reduced well-being, and this marketing increases consumption and therefore harm. The messages of the WHO report are timely and should be heeded.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/183334/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sally-casswell-862029" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sally Casswell</a>, Professor of public health policy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/massey-university-806" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Massey University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/alcohol-marketing-has-crossed-borders-and-entered-the-metaverse-how-do-we-regulate-the-new-digital-risk-183334" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Legal

Digital inequality: why can I enter your building – but your website shows me the door?

When people hear the term “accessibility” in the context of disability, most will see images of ramps, automatic doors, elevators, or tactile paving (textured ground which helps vision impaired people navigate public spaces). These are physical examples of inclusive practice that most people understand. You may even use these features yourself, for convenience, as you go about your day. However, such efforts to create an inclusive physical world aren’t being translated into designing the digital world. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463211/original/file-20220516-25-nl8hd8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A large wheelchair sign is visible to the left of a wheelchair ramp." /></a><figcaption>New buildings are required to comply with a range of physical access requirements, which may include tactile paving (seen in yellow). Shutterstock</figcaption></figure> Accessibility fails Digital accessibility refers to the way people with a lived experience of disability interact with the cyber world. One example comes from an author of this article, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2019-07-13/dark-patterns-online-captcha-accessibility-disability-community/11301054" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scott</a>, who is legally blind. Scott is unable to purchase football tickets online because the ticketing website uses an image-based “CAPTCHA” test. It’s a seemingly simple task, but fraught with challenges when considering accessibility issues. Despite Scott having an IT-related PhD, and two decades of digital accessibility experience in academic and commercial arenas, it falls on his teenage son to complete the online ticket purchase. Screen readers, high-contrast colour schemes and text magnifiers are all assistive technology tools that enable legally blind users to interact with websites. Unfortunately, they are useless if a website has not been designed with an inclusive approach. The other author of this article, Justin, uses a wheelchair for mobility and can’t even purchase wheelchair seating tickets over the web. He has to phone a special access number to do so. Both of these are examples of digital accessibility fails. And they’re more common than most people realise. We can clearly do better The term “disability” covers a spectrum of <a href="https://www.apsc.gov.au/working-aps/diversity-and-inclusion/disability/definition-disability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">physical and cognitive conditions</a>. It can can range from short-term conditions to lifelong ones. “Digital accessibility” applies to a broad range of users <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/people-use-web/abilities-barriers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with varying abilities</a>. At last count, nearly <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/disability/disability-ageing-and-carers-australia-summary-findings/2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one in five Australians (17.7%)</a> lived with some form of disability. This figure increases significantly when you consider the physical and cognitive impacts of ageing. At the same time, Australians are becoming increasingly reliant on digital services. According to a <a href="https://www.pwc.com.au/consulting/connected-government/potential-of-digital-inclusion.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2022 survey</a> by consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, 45% of respondents in New South Wales and Victoria increased their use of digital channels during the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, research undertaken by <a href="https://www.infosys.com/australia/digital-accessibility-journey/executive-summary.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Infosys in December 2021</a> found only 3% of leading companies in Australia and New Zealand had effective digital accessibility processes. But have we improved? Areas that have shown accessibility improvement include <a href="https://blog.hootsuite.com/inclusive-design-social-media/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">social media platforms</a> such as YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, food ordering services such as <a href="https://www.afb.org/aw/20/4/16411" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uber Eats</a>, and media platforms such as the ABC News app. Challenges still persist in <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognizant/2022/03/03/how-to-make-online-banking-disabled-people-friendly/?sh=21a3d5dda4a5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">online banking</a>, <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Websites-critiqued-on-accessibility-to-disabled-customers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">travel booking sites</a>, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahkim/2020/12/30/accessibility-of-online-shopping/?sh=66a9d883e49e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shopping sites</a> and <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10209-021-00792-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">educational websites and content</a>. Data from the United States indicates lawsuits relating to accessibility <a href="https://www.essentialaccessibility.com/blog/web-accessibility-lawsuits">are on the rise</a>, with outcomes including financial penalties and requirements for business owners to remedy the accessibility of their website/s. In Australia, however, it’s often hard to obtain exact figures for the scale of accessibility complaints lodged with site owners. <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/disability-rights/publications/overlooked-consumers-20-australian-population-disabilities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This 1997 article</a> from the Australian Human Right Commission suggests the conversation hasn’t shifted much in 25 years. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=257&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=257&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=257&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=323&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=323&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463213/original/file-20220516-19-vjfht8.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=323&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="A rendered illustration of a disabled man in a wheelchair and woman with a hearing aid lifting weights." /></a><figcaption>It’s a human right to have fair and equal access to the web and all its services. Shutterstock</figcaption></figure> There are solutions at hand There’s a clear solution to the digital divide. The World Wide Web Consortium’s <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG21/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Web Content Accessibility Guidelines</a> (WCAG) standard has been widely adopted across the globe. It’s universally available, and is a requirement for all Australian public-facing government websites. It guides website and app developers on how to use web languages (such as HTML and CSS) in ways that enable end users who rely on assistive technologies. There are no specialist technologies or techniques required to make websites or apps accessible. All that’s needed is an adherence to good practice. Unfortunately, WCAG is rarely treated as an <a href="https://www.rev.com/blog/web-accessibility-laws-australia-new-zealand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">enforceable standard</a>. All too often, adherence to WCAG requirements in Australia is reduced to a box-ticking exercise. Our academic work and experience liaising with a range of vendors has revealed that even where specific accessibility requirements are stated, many vendors will tick “yes” regardless of their knowledge of accessibility principles, or their ability to deliver against the standards. In cases where vendors do genuinely work towards WCAG compliance, they often rely on automated testing (via online tools), rather than human <a href="https://zoonou.com/resources/blog/why-automated-accessibility-testing-tools-are-not-enough/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">testing</a>. As a result, genuine accessibility and usability issues can go <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262352732_Benchmarking_web_accessibility_evaluation_tools_Measuring_the_harm_of_sole_reliance_on_automated_tests" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unreported</a>. While the coding of each element of a website might be WCAG compliant, the sum of all the parts may not be. In 2016, the Australian government adopted <a href="https://www.accessibility.org.au/policy-and-research/australian-policy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">standard EN 301549</a> (a direct implementation of an existing European standard). It’s aimed at preventing inaccessible products (hardware, software, websites and services) entering the government’s digital ecosystem. Yet the new standard seems to have achieved little. Few, if any, references to it appear in academic literature or the public web. It seems to have met a similar fate to the government’s <a href="https://www.governmentnews.com.au/national-transition-strategy-web-accessibility-in-transition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Transition Strategy</a> for digital accessibility, which quietly disappeared in 2015. The carrot, not the stick Accessibility advocates take different approaches to advancing the accessibility agenda with reticent organisations. Some instil the fear of legal action, often citing the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1RbzjUBT1s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maguire v SOCOG case</a>, where the 2000 Olympic website was found to be inaccessible. In a more recent example, the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-05/blind-woman-launches-court-action-against-coles-over-its-website/5869874?nw=0&r=HtmlFragment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manage v Coles settlement</a> saw Coles agree to make improvements to their website’s accessibility after being sued by a legally blind woman. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=448&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=448&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=448&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=563&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=563&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/463210/original/file-20220516-21-7tu89a.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=563&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Screenshot of the top of Coles's 'accessibility' section on the company's website, with a red Coles logo on the top-left." /></a><figcaption>After getting sued by a legally blind customer in 2014, Coles made improvements to its website’s accessibility features. Screenshot/Coles</figcaption></figure> In the Coles case, the stick became the carrot; Coles went on to win a <a href="https://www.accessibility.org.au/award-winners-2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national website accessibility award</a> after the original complainant nominated them following their remediation efforts. But while the financial impact of being sued might spur an organisation into action, it’s more likely to commit to genuine effort if this will generate a <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/business-case/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">positive return on investment</a>. Accessible by default We can attest to the common misconception that disability implies a need for help and support. Most people living with disability are seeking to live independently and with self-determination. To break the cycle of financial and social dependence frequently associated with the equity space, governments, corporations and educational institutions need to become accessible by default. The technologies and policies are all in place, ready to go. What is needed is leadership from government and non-government sectors to define digital accessibility as a right, and not a privilege. <img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/182432/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/scott-hollier-1337594" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scott Hollier</a>, Adjunct Senior Lecturer - Science and Mathematics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Edith Cowan University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/justin-brown-1344442" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Justin Brown</a>, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning), School of Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/edith-cowan-university-720" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Edith Cowan University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/digital-inequality-why-can-i-enter-your-building-but-your-website-shows-me-the-door-182432" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Technology

Desperate search for grandfather enters fifth day

A desperate search has entered its fifth day as police and volunteers continue looking for an elderly man missing in Victoria’s freezing weather. Christo was last seen at the Big Muster Drive, Dinner Plain, north east of Melbourne about 2.45pm on Friday. His wife raised the alarm later that day when the 70-year-old did not return which sparked a massive 120 people search including police, volunteers in High Country near Mount Hotham. Police have been driving around with infrared sensors in hopes of detecting body heat from Christo. Mouth Hotham has seen temperatures dip to a cool -3C and with wind gusts of up to 70km/h but real temperature feels have made it feel like -12C. Senior Constable Joel Magno-Thornton said there is a “high chance” that Christo is still alive but the area he is believed to be missing is extremely dangerous. "The terrain out here is treacherous," he said. On Monday, the devastated family issued a statement describing Christo as a “kind and loving person”. "We are devastated knowing that our dad Christo is still missing in Mount Hotham's high country," the statement read. "He is a grandfather to four beautiful granddaughters and we know he would love to see them again. "He is adored by his children, wife, family and friends and everyone else who knows him. "We are all praying that his strong and resilient nature will find his way back to us.” Images: Victoria Police/Nine News

Family & Pets

Scomo enters fierce exchange with 14-year-old journo

Scott Morrison’s latest interview became heated after the 14-year-old journalist interviewing him came in with hard-hitting questions on some touchy subjects. The prime minister appeared in an interview with independent media outlet <a href="https://www.6newsau.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">6News</a>, hosted by <a href="https://twitter.com/Leo_Puglisi6/media" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leonardo Puglisi</a> and reporter Roman Mackinnon, who caught Mr Morrison off-guard with well-researched questions spanning topics such as the election and the truth behind past claims. When asked about trust, particularly relating to Mr Morrison claiming he never referred to former NSW senator Sam Dastyari as ‘Shanghai Sam’ and claims relating to never visiting Hillsong, the PM accused “the media” of lying. “They’ve completely taken out of context what I’ve said,” Mr Morrison said. “I didn’t say I haven’t been to Hillsong Church, I said I don’t go to the Hillsong Church, that’s not my home church.” “Again, bunkum on what was being put around.” Puglisi doubled down on the claims, bringing up Crikey’'s ‘Dossier of Lies and Falsehoods’, which detailed 50 times where Mr Morrison lied in public office, and fact-checking by the ABC, which seemed to escalate the situation. “If you’re talking about credibility it’s not a good start.. It’s a gossip column,” Mr Morrison said. “The ABC, and Crikey, let’s add a few more then, the Australian Institute is probably going to be the next one, I suspect.” After quickly diffusing the situation, the exchange became heated for a second time after Pugilisi mentioned that direct quotes were used by the ABC and Crikey and after Mr Morrison began questioning where Labor leader Anthony Albanese’s economic plan was. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> PM Scott Morrison: "Where's <a href="https://twitter.com/AlboMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlboMP</a>'s economic plan...do you know?"<a href="https://twitter.com/Leo_Puglisi6?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Leo_Puglisi6</a>: "We're trying to speak to (him) & we'd love if his media team gave us a call" 📞 FULL INTERVIEW: <a href="https://t.co/uX3U2sb194">https://t.co/uX3U2sb194</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/6NewsAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#6NewsAU</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AusPol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AusPol</a> | <a href="https://t.co/eU0kSSqhk6">https://t.co/eU0kSSqhk6</a> <a href="https://t.co/Hb70BnVUxn">pic.twitter.com/Hb70BnVUxn</a> — 6 News Australia (@6NewsAU) <a href="https://twitter.com/6NewsAU/status/1511901584053129218?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2022</a></blockquote> “I think the heated moments showed the PM was actually paying attention to our questions, but I didn’t back down as I needed to make sure the truth got out there and the questions were actually answers,” Pugilisi told OverSixty via email. He added that it was difficult to keep the interview going when it became heated, but that he ensured Mr Morrison was ‘pulled up’. “It was a bit hard, especially when the PM’s answers kept requiring follow-up - but with only around 15 minutes allocated to the interview it was necessary to move on,” Puglisi said. “That being said, I didn’t wanna let him get away with a falsehood and I made sure to pull him up.” The interview comes a day after Mr Morrison cancelled his interview with ABC’s 7.30, which was rescheduled for the following week and aired the day before the full, uncensored interview with 6News. Watch the full interview below: <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YnPRQwKPEKM" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Image: SIX News Australia (YouTube)

Anger after "fan" enters van carrying Shane Warne's body

Thailand police have revealed they will not be charging a mysterious woman who was spotted entered an ambulance carrying the body of Shane Warne, because she did not break the law. There has been widespread outrage after it was discovered that the mystery blonde woman was allowed into the white van as it transported the body of the late cricket great on a ferry from Koh Samui to the Thai mainland on Sunday. Local police in Thailand launched an investigation into why the woman was allowed to spend time with Shane Warne's body ahead of his autopsy, and brought her in for questioning. At a press conference on Monday, they said they have dropped the investigation as they believed she had not broken any rules. The woman, a German ex-pat who lives in Koh Samui, was seen carrying flowers near the van as it sat on the ferry, before speaking with a local immigration officer. The woman then approached the driver's side of the van and spoke to the driver, who left the vehicle, allowing her to get in and then shut the doors behind her. It’s understood she spent more than 30 seconds inside the vehicle. The woman later told <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-07/shane-warne-body-incident-thailand/100887050" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC</a> that she just wanted to pay her respects to the cricketer and didn't mean to cause any offence. “I am a big fan of him. It’s very sad that we lost him,” she said. “I just took the flowers to pay condolences." “I am sorry about yesterday but I [did] not mean [any] negative act by that. I am a big fan, he is a great player.” Image credits: ABC News footage

Legal

Djokovic enters vaxxed-only event

Tennis champion Novak Djokovic has entered into next month's Indian Wells ATP event in California, just weeks after he was prevented from competing in the Australian Open. Organisers for the ATP event announced the player entry list on Thursday, and said proof of full vaccination will be required to enter the grounds for the event that runs from March 7th to March 20th. Many tennis fans have taken Novak's registration in the event as a sign the Serbian star has finally received his Covid-19 vaccinations. Organisers at Indian Wells released a statement saying vaccines will be required for the event, but also said player protocols for Djokovic and other men’s players will be decided by the ATP in line with US restrictions.“With health and safety as the tournament’s top priority, the BNP Paribas Open will require valid proof of full vaccination to enter the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for the tournament,” a statement said.“The guidelines for the players are governed by the protocols established by their respective governing bodies, the WTA and ATP, as well as any restrictions established by the United States of America in regard to the vaccination status of international travellers entering the country.”Novak was set to compete for his fourth consecutive Australian Open title in January, before being turned away at the border for his invalid visa and vaccination passport. Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who is also on the Indian Wells entry list, won the Australian Open to set the record with his 21st career slam singles crown.Last week, author of Novak's biography A Lifetime At War, suggested that seeing Nadal take out the Australian Open win may have been a motivating factor for the Serbian to get vaccinated. Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

Afterpay enters Aussie pubs, experts warn of “debt spiral”

Afterpay – the popular buy now, pay later (BNPL) service – has made the jump from retail stores to over 160 Aussie pubs. But consumer advocates are worried that the move could send some people into a “debt spiral”. Australian Venue Co (AVC) has become the first hospitality group to partner with Afterpay as part of its ‘Dine Now, Pay Later’ offering – which rolls out across its venues from November 15. AVC CEO Paul Waterson said the decision was driven by customer demand, who he said have shifted away from credit cards, as well as a desire to offer convenient experiences for guests, “We’re not afraid to go first. As a group, we seek out other industry leaders who we can work with to innovate on behalf of our customers,” he said. “We are looking forward to our guests being able to choose an alternative, innovative way to pay for dining out at our pubs.” However Katherine Temple, the policy and campaigns director at the Consumer Action Law Centre, said the centre has seen more people struggling with BNPL debts, making the move from AVC all the more concerning. “Often buy now, pay later is part of a larger debt so people are also struggling with existing credit card debts or personal loans or utility loans, so it’s rarely the only type of debt when they come to us,” she told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/costs/afterpay-moves-into-hospitality-with-australian-venue-co/news-story/b569dcf94efcde0e5eef2ba79852c24f" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. “The debt varies but it can be [from] a couple of thousand dollars up to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt and we are hearing from people of all ages and walks of life that are using these products now.” James Hunt, a policy advisor at Financial Counselling Australia, told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.goodfood.com.au/eat-out/news/twobeer-pub-trip-or-sixweek-hangover-afterpay-comes-to-the-pub-20211104-h1zlwk" target="_blank">Good Food</a> that Afterpay and other BNPL companies aren’t required to check if customers can afford the repayments, “so unfortunately many people are ending up with unmanageable debt”. Ms Temple shares those concerns, citing a lack of safeguards “to ensure people can afford to make repayments”, which she says exacerbates “financial hardship and money problems”. “Buy now, pay later is everywhere now and is normalising debt particularly for younger people,” she said. A spokesperson for Afterpay said the company enters new consumer markets based on demand. “As credit cards steeply decline, Australians are looking for smarter ways to manage their budget, using their own money, and avoiding interest and debt traps,” they said. They also said the Afterpay’s product has built-in spending rules to ensure customers don’t pay interest or revolve in debt. “Customers are unable to continue using Afterpay if they are late on a single instalment,” they added. However, customers do pay some fees if they miss a payment, with Afterpay collecting a whopping $70 million in late fees in 2020. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) also criticised Afterpay, Zip, and other BNPL providers for charging excessive fees. In a report released last year, the regulator found that one in five BNPL users are missing payments. It also found that 15 percent of users had taken out additional loans to pay for the services. As for Afterpay’s place in pubs, chief spokesperson for CANSTAR Steve Mickenbacker said it could be especially challenging to navigate. “You visit a pub, perhaps budgeting to buy two drinks … BNPL puts you in a position to turn those two drinks into eight,” he said. “Without self-discipline, that two-beer pub trip could become a six-week hangover.” Images: Getty Images

Money & Banking

Don't miss out! How to enter million-dollar Vax Lottery

Image: 7 News Aussies looking to win a million dollars at the cost of a COVID-19 vaccine as part of the Million Dollar Vax campaign have until October 31st to receive their first or second dose. Most Australians will be eligible for an entry into the lottery after the national vaccine rate for over 16s on Friday increased to 76.2%. The campaign will give away $4.1 million worth of prizes, with the big ticket item of $1 million in cash drawn on the 5th of November. Funded by philanthropists and corporations, the campaign aims to boost national vaccination rates above 80%, a key reopening target under the national plan. But Craig Winkler of Million Dollar Vax Alliance says it is not designed to convince vaccine hesitant Australians to get the jab. “That’s a decision you should make in consultation with a health professional,” he said in a statement earlier in October. “The promotion simply seeks to reward people who decide to vaccinated now rather than waiting, so that we can reduce the community impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” “The faster we reach higher vaccination rates nationally, higher than 80% the sooner we can all safely resume our full range of community and business activity.” “The promotion simply seeks to reward people who decide to be vaccinated now rather than waiting.” Australia’s vaccination rates have soared in recent months as supply issues eased. The federal government had been considering incentives to encourage people to get the jab before lockdown-inducing outbreaks of the highly infectious Delta variant in NSW and Victoria. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has endorsed the concept after his state announced a mandate for more than a million authorised workers. “It’s great. I’m not fussed on what motivates you, whether it is for your health or to help the people you love, to protect our health system and our nurses, or to win $1 million,” he told reporters earlier in October. “Just go get vaccinated. That is what I am asking because it is our way out of this.” The initiative is inspired by the Ohio ‘Vax-A-Million’ campaign in the US. All Australian adults are eligible to enter the competition online, as long as they’ve had their first dose on or before October 31. Prizes will only be dished out to those who are fully vaccinated by the 13th of December, six weeks after cut-off date. Vaccinated Australian’s over 18 who have been or will be vaccinated can enter here. <a rel="noopener" href="https://milliondollarvax.com/" target="_blank">https://milliondollarvax.com/</a>

Money & Banking

“Please help me find her!” Mum’s plea as search for Cleo enters third day

Image: 9 News The search for a missing four-year-old girl in Western Australia has resumed at first light today, with police not willing to rule out the possibility she was abducted. Officers are urgently searching for Cleo Smith, last seen at 1:30 am on Saturday at the Blowholes campsite in Macleod, north of Carnarvon. “We are gravely concerned for the safety of Cleo, we’re not leaving anything to chance,” WA Police Inspector Jon Munday said. Cleo was last seen wearing a pink/purple one-piece sleepsuit with a blue and yellow pattern. Her mum, Ellie, said the little girl was in their shared tent at 1:30 on Saturday morning. When the family woke up at 6:30 am she was gone, with reports her sleeping bag was also nowhere to be found. Cleo’s mum posted an update on Facebook at 1:45 am Monday morning, pleading for help finding her daughter. “It’s been over 24 hours since I last seen the sparkle in my little girl’s eyes! Please help me find her! If you hear or anything at all please call the police!” she posted. Police remain tight-lipped about parts of the investigation. “It’s been reported a sleeping bag is missing. Other than that I really am not at liberty to divulge what else we believe may be missed,” Inspector Munday said. He shared that nothing is being ruled out, including the possibility Cleo was abducted. “Everything is on the table, we are looking at everything,” he said. “We’re just trying to paint a picture of who was around here during the window of opportunity.” Carnarvon Shire president Eddie Smith said on Sunday that it was a “terrible feeling” but he implored “everyone to remain positive”. “WA police are involved, the SES is involved, a large number of the community are involved,” he said. According the The West Australian, police on Sunday were searching cars and caravans inside the campsite where little Cleo went missing. The family, who are from Carnarvon, are familiar with the area and often camp there.

News

Game-changing cancer treatment enters second clinical trial

Game-changing low-cost and non-toxic treatment could offer people battling cancer a new alternative to chemotherapy. Researchers at The Australian National University have discovered a way to use dead bacteria to help kickstart the body’s immune system and shrink the cancer. Aude Fahrer, lead research at ANU said ongoing clinical trials of the Complete Freund Adjuvant treatment had shown promising results and could significantly improve outcomes for patients battling the disease. “We do think it could be a game charger. If this works well, it will be a new treatment option with far fewer side effects, which will be available for cancer patients,” Associate professor Fahrer said. Complete Freund Adjuvant is made up just three ingredients: mineral oil, surfactant, and dead bacteria. Associate Professor Fahrer’s team tested the treatment on eight cancer patients at Canberra Hospital. “They were all late stages, but in one case in particular we were able to significantly improve the patients’ quality of life,” she said. The new treatment was able to reduce the amount of liquid around the patient’s lungs and shrunk their tumour. Associate Professor Fahrer said the new approach was less time-consuming and physically taxing than other cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. “The best things about this new treatment is that it requires few dosages, is simple to administer, and has how side effects,” she said. Extreme hair loss, nausea, fatigue, and physical pain are just some of the impacts of chemotherapy. And while some cancer immunotherapy treatments can cost up to $40,000, the ANU researcher’s new treatment is very affordable – clocking in at just $20 per dose. The bacterial-based immunotherapy is a simple, but unusual approach to treating tumours. “It involves injecting a slow-release solution of dead mycobacteria directly into the cancer,” Associate Professor Fahrer said. “The idea is this will bring immune cells into the cancer to attack the bacteria, even though they’re dead, and as a side effect cause the immune cells to attack the cancer as well. “Once the immune cells multiple they can travel around the body, so it would not only attack the cancer at the injection site, but any metastases – where the cancer has spread to another part of the body.” While trials have only been conducted on late-stage human cancer patients so far, Associate Professor Fahrer said the new treatment was able to eliminate some earlier stage tumours in animal studies. If the new treatment continues to show success in clinical trials, researchers say the treatment has the potential to help treat all forms of solid tumour cancer. Ms Fahrer’s research was largely funded by the Lea Chapuis Memorial Fund, a cancer patient who’s dying wish was to improve treatment options for sick Australians. “Lea asked people to contribute to the research in lieu of flowers when she passed way,” Associate Professor Fahrer said. A second clinical trial of the new treatment at the Canberra Hospital has already been approved.

Body

Search for missing toddler enters fourth day

Police have seized CCTV footage and declared an abandoned house an active crime scene, as the search for a missing toddler enters its fourth day. Anthony “AJ” Elfalek, who has nonverbal autism, went missing from a property in the NSW Hunter region several days ago, with his family fearing he may have been kidnapped. A strike force has been spearheading the search for the boy at Putty, north-west of Sydney, seizing CCTV footage from a petrol station as well as a ute and other items from the abandoned house. The Colo Heights service station is a site of concern after the family reported seeing a white Toyota Hilux driving down their private road around the same time as AJ disappeared. The abandoned home, 1km south of the farm, is also being investigated, with police looking to determine whether somebody may have been squatting at the property. The search has seen more than 100 volunteers on foot, bikes, horseback, and in cars scouring the area on Sunday, along with helicopters scanning the bushland from overhead. “We’ve organised a personal helicopter… we have to ramp it up,” AJ’s father, Anthony Elfalek, told 9News. NSW Police Superintendent Tracy Chapman said Strike Force Jayland was investigating the circumstances surrounding the boy’s disappearance and pursuing all possible avenues. Police are focusing on 15 dams on the property, draining one with an excavator on Monday morning. <img style="width: 500px; height:281px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843735/https___prodstatic9net-15.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d01d430afa4844238296c0d917b0eac8" /> Image: 9News Forensic police also attended the scene on Sunday night, where they dusted the Elfalek’s family home for fingerprints, took photos, and collected evidence. Having moved into the area just three months ago, the family were emotional while speaking to 9News on Sunday and said it was unlike AJ to wander off. “I just want to find my son, I need to find AJ,” his mother, Kelly Elfalek, said. “I’ve searched the property, so many times I’ve searched and I still cannot find him. “I’m his universe, he holds my hand all day and all night, we are together all the time - something’s not right.” The family suspects AJ was abducted after spotting a suspicious older model Toyota Hilux nearby. “I think he’s been taken. He’s been taken. If he was around here I would have found him by now,” Ms Elfalek said. An amber alert is yet to be issued by police, however they are investigating all lines of inquiry as wet weather sets in across the area. “Really every minute is important, our priority is just to find AJ as quickly as we can,” Superintendent Chapman said. “Obviously, the terrain is very difficult. We’re in a rural setting, there are various levels of elevation. “We have been searching some of the dams and waterways.” The search will continue on Monday night, as police bring in additional resources for patrols on the property and neighbouring farms, while a police helicopter will be using thermal imaging cameras from above. Emergency crews are searching the area with the assistance of the State Emergency Service (SES) and the Rural Fire Service. <img style="width: 500px; height:281px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843736/https___prodstatic9net-14.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a4a64ffad16140168873f00a84fa22a9" /> Image: 9News NSW Police have issued a statement insisting that assistance from the public was not needed at this stage, while also remaining people of the COVID-19 restrictions currently in place. “There are sufficient emergency services on the scene and public assistance is not required at this time,” NSW Police said. “This area is deemed regional NSW and travel restrictions under the Public Health Order apply.” AJ is described as having short dark hair and being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance. He is believed to be wearing a grey jumper, pants, and runners. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Image: James Wilson / Twitter

News

Tom Gleeson blocked from entering WA

With Western Australia shutting its borders to NSW travellers, Gold Logie award-winning comedian Tom Gleeson has revealed he has been turned away from the border after flying to Perth. “Just arrived in Perth to be told NSW residents aren’t allowed in,” Gleeson shared on Twitter. “I’ve visited no exposure sites, no hotspots and here’s the fun part … I’M FULLY VACCINATED! LOL! (Sorry for cancelled gigs Perth. I did my best.)” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Just arrived in Perth to be told NSW residents aren’t allowed in. I’ve visited no exposure sites, no hotspots and here’s the fun part … I’M FULLY VACCINATED! LOL! (Sorry for cancelled gigs Perth. I did my best.) <a href="https://t.co/XRROfPfVBs">pic.twitter.com/XRROfPfVBs</a> — Tom Gleeson (@nonstoptom) <a href="https://twitter.com/nonstoptom/status/1407567286353809412?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2021</a></blockquote> Though some fans sympathised with the comedian, others were quick to point out that his vaccinated status meant little in preventing the spread of coronavirus. “Unfortunately it doesn’t matter if you’re fully vaccinated, you can still carry the virus. It protects you from having severe symptoms,” one commented. Another replied: “WA has zero active Covid cases. We’d like to keep it that way thanks. Vaccination is irrelevant - you can still be infected.” Can vaccinated people pass on COVID to others if they get infected? Though scientists have been hesitant to confirm that COVID-19 vaccinations reduce transmission of the virus to others, an increasing amount of evidence suggests that the vaccines substantially reduce the chance of the virus spreading to others. A large study of COVID-19 transmission involving more than 365,000 households with vaccinated and unvaccinated members found that the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines reduced the chance of spreading the disease to others by 40-60 percent, according to <a href="https://khub.net/documents/135939561/390853656/Impact+of+vaccination+on+household+transmission+of+SARS-COV-2+in+England.pdf/35bf4bb1-6ade-d3eb-a39e-9c9b25a8122a?t=1619601878136">Public Health England</a>. This means that vaccinated people who then become infected with COVID-19 are around half as likely to pass the infection on to others than unvaccinated people with the disease. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01316-7">Another study from Israel</a> found that the amount of the virus in a person’s nose was significantly lower if they were vaccinated than if they were not. Higher amounts of the virus in someone’s nose has been linked to being more infectious and more likely to transmit the disease. Closed borders Western Australia restricted entry of NSW travellers into the state from Wednesday following an increase in cases in NSW. Premier Mark McGowan acknowledged it was an inconvenience for many travellers but insisted he was keeping Western Australians safe. “I’d just urge the NSW government to get this under control because this is a threat and a risk to the rest of the country,” he told reporters. “If that means a lockdown, well then that’s what should happen.” Image: Tom Gleeson / Instagram

Travel Trouble

Victoria enters new state of emergency

Across metropolitan Melbourne on Sunday 2 August, stage four restrictions began and will continue throughout the city for six weeks. Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, says the new restrictions have been put in place to get community transmission of the virus under control. Andrews says that without the government’s new strict rules and curfew in place, stage three restrictions would need to last six months. Here are some of the main things you need to know about the stage four restrictions for Melbourne. When does the lockdown start? The stage four restrictions go across metropolitan Melbourne from Sunday 2 August and will carry on for six weeks until Sunday 13 September. When can I leave my house? People are only allowed to leave their home for four reasons which includes shopping for groceries and essential items, care and caregiving, exercise and essential work. Employers must support you to work from home if you can work from home. In the stage four restrictions, the government has enforced a curfew on Melbourne residents between 8 pm and 5am. Those who leave their home to give care must be under the following: shared custody arrangements, babysitting, caring for animals housed elsewhere, visiting someone in an aged care home and visiting someone in hospital. The government has advised that anyone can leave their house if they are at risk of family violence or to apply for an intervention order, and to attend court or a police station. You can also leave your house to access medical services. This time around, that explicitly includes leaving your house to give blood. How far can I travel from home? Those shopping for food and other necessary supplies must not venture out past a 5km distance from their home unless their closest supermarket is over 5km away. Only one person per household can leave to go shopping per day. Exercise must also take place within 5km of home, and must be in metropolitan Melbourne. Exercise is limited to one hour, once per day. What are the rules for wearing masks? It has been required for everyone living in metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire to wear face coverings in public since midnight on Wednesday 22 July. That rule is extended to the entire state from midnight Sunday 2 August. People must wear a mask or covering whenever leaving the house. There are a few exceptions which include people who have a medical reason, or children younger than 12. Those who have a professional reason are also exempt and “if it’s just not practical, like when running”. However the government has noted that those people will still be expected to carry a face covering at all times “to wear when you can”. In schools, teachers will not need to wear a face covering while teaching. However students attending classes will. Both teachers and students will need to wear a mask on the way to and from school. Andrews said “common sense” would guide how the new rules are enforced. Breaking the rules is punishable with a $200 fine. All local government areas within metropolitan Melbourne will be affected. These include: Banyule, Hume, Moreland, Bayside, Kingston, Mornington Peninsula, Boroondara, Knox, Nillumbik, Brimbank, Manningham, Port Phillip, Cardinia, Maribyrnong, Stonnington, Casey, Maroondah, Whitehorse, Darebin, Melbourne, Whittlesea, Frankston, Melton, Wyndham, Glen Eira, Monash, Yarra, Greater Dandenong, Moonee Valley, Yarra Ranges, Hobsons Bay. Regional Victoria will return to stage three restrictions from Wednesday. Can I have visitors to my house? Can I see my partner? People are not allowed to have visitors or go to another person’s house unless it is for the purpose or giving or receiving care. You can leave your house to visit a person if you are in an “intimate personal relationship” with them, even during curfew hours. If your partner lives outside Melbourne and/or 5km of your home you can still visit them. What are the rules for exercise? Exercise is still a permitted reason to leave your house however they are not permitted to leave metropolitan Melbourne to exercise. So this means long bush walks or leaving Melbourne to go fishing or surfing is no longer permitted. Exercise can only happen within 5km of home, and must be in metropolitan Melbourne. Exercise is limited to one hour, once per day. Swimming pools, playgrounds and gyms will be shut, and community sport will also stop. You can exercise with one other person, including members of your household. You can also hire a personal trainer. What is happening with schools? Year 11 and 12 students, along with all other students, will return to remote learning from Wednesday across Victoria, except for children of permitted workers and vulnerable children. Childcare and kindergarten classes will be closed except for children of permitted workers and vulnerable children. What if I break the rules? Andrews says police will be monitoring traffic seeking to leave metropolitan Melbourne. Officers have also been granted the ability to enforce the restrictions within the city. Victoria police can issue on-the-spot fines of up to $1,652 for individuals and up to $9,913 to businesses. Andrews indicated more penalties were being considered.

News

Another NSW suburb banned from entering Queensland

Residents from another Sydney suburb have been barred from entering Queensland after new rules came into effect overnight. From 1 am, anyone from Fairfield Council in the city’s west is not permitted to enter Queensland, with heavy penalties and jail time for those who breach the rules. There are now 200,000 Sydneysiders who are unable to enter the sunshine state, with Fairfield joining Campbelltown and Liverpool councils, both of which are already banned from crossing the border. A new border declaration form has also been created in an attempt to help ease heavy congestion at the NSW-Queensland border. Authorities have issued a warning saying lengthy delays will occur in the coming days at Queensland’s borders and airports, as the changeover on the declaration process takes place.

Travel Trouble

Aussie golfer’s touching message to supporters as he enters palliative care

Australian golfer Jarrod Lyle has described himself as the “luckiest golfer going around” in a touching message from his hospital bed, after he made the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/world-in-shock-over-aussie-golfers-tragic-decision">heartbreaking decision to end treatment and begin palliative care</a> in his long fight against leukaemia. In an interview recorded on Tuesday with friend and Golf Australia media manager Mark Hayes, Jarrod, 36, spoke openly about what lies ahead. “I feel like I’m the luckiest golfer going around, because so many people took an interest in me, and took an interest in my fight,” the former PGA Tour player said on the <a href="http://www.golf.org.au/newsdisplay/podcast-episode-54-out-now/101253">Gold Australia podcast Inside the Ropes</a>. “To have so many friends around the world, whether they’re spectators, golfers, marshals, whatever, to have that kind of support (at) every tournament, is a great feeling. “It’s going to be hard to leave that behind, but they know that I love them, they know that all the fighting that I did was to get back out and play golf again. “To have the support from all those people was just a tremendous feeling. “It’s going to be hard, but at some point it’s going to happen and they’ll get on with their lives, and I just feel very, very lucky.” Jarrod, widely considered one of the most likeable figures in world sport, suffered a recurrence of acute myeloid leukaemia last year. It’s the third time he’s been diagnosed with the disease. On Tuesday, his wife Briony passed on the devastating news that Jarrod’s body “cannot take any more” and he would enter palliative care. She wrote: "Earlier today Jarrod made the decision to stop active treatment and begin palliative care. "He has given everything that he's got to give, and his poor body cannot take anymore. "We'll be taking him closer to home in the next couple of days so he can finally leave the hospital. "We have done our best to 'control' the narrative surrounding Jarrod's illness and treatment, and as more and more people become involved in this final process I'm not sure how much longer this development will remain private. "Jarrod knows he is loved, and the thousands of prayers and well wishes that have been sent his way have kept him going through some incredibly tough times. "But he has reached his limit, and the docs have finally agreed that they can no longer strive for a positive outcome. "My focus as of today is on our girls and doing whatever I can to get them through the challenges ahead. "Jarrod will be closer to them very soon, and will spend as much time as he can with them. "When it's appropriate, I will post details of a memorial service. In the meantime we ask that you respect our privacy at this difficult time." <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJarrodLyleGolf%2Fposts%2F1765179523531356&width=500" width="500" height="734" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> The heartbreaking news sparked an outpouring of emotion for the Lyle family, particularly from fellow Aussie golfers Adam Scott, Jason Day and Marc Leishman. “He is one of the best blokes there is,” Scott said. “Given all the difficulties he's had since his late teens, he has lived the best life he could with the tough cards he has been dealt. “He played such good golf while battling illness; he has been through it all. “His positivity and general demeanour has been so good and so infectious on others; it's a good way to think of how I should live my life. “It shouldn't have to have something like this to remember that's what it's all about.”

Caring

Paul Burrell enters the jungle on "I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!"

This season of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has already seen <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/tv/2018/02/anthony-mundine-sensationally-quits-im-a-celebrity/" target="_blank">numerous controversies</a>, but if its latest contestant’s past is anything to go by, it’s only going to get more dramatic. Princess Diana’s outspoken former butler Paul Burrell entered the South African jungle as an intruder last night, along with UK reality star Vicky Pattison. And it’s not his first foray into the jungle. Both Burrell and Pattison appeared on the UK version of the show in 2004 and 2015, respectively. However, while Pattison proved a fan favourite, going on to win her series, Burrell quickly earned a reputation as “one of the most annoying contestants” in the show’s history – a reputation he’s hoping he can fix, 14 years later. Speaking to the <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/britains-whimpering-butler-paul-burrell-on-joining-im-a-celebrity-australia-im-a-different-person-20180212-h0vyap.html" target="_blank">Sydney Morning Herald</a> ahead of joining the Aussie cast, the always-vocal Burrell says he’s looking forward to sharing more stories about his time with the royals – something social media users aren’t so sure about. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ImACelebrityAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ImACelebrityAU</a> let’s start taking bets now, how long will it take Paul Burrell to drop Diana’s name when he gets to the camp and meets everyone? — Steve Clark (@spclark14) <a href="https://twitter.com/spclark14/status/962987706912358402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2018</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Paul Burrell is doing the reality tv rounds now..hhmmmm..... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ImACelebrityAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ImACelebrityAU</a> — Just Some Random (@spottedpelican) <a href="https://twitter.com/spottedpelican/status/962986434184429568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2018</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Paul Burrell on his 100th reality show since Princess Di died. 🙄 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ImACelebrityAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ImACelebrityAU</a> — Carla JS 🚌 (@CarlsCarla) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlsCarla/status/962982663870021632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2018</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Paul Burrell... are you fricken kidding me?? Been cashing in on Diana for 20 yrs now! 😡 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ImACelebrityAU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ImACelebrityAU</a> — MelG (@MelG146) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelG146/status/962982473704419328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2018</a></blockquote> “If people love the royal family, they will hear wonderful stories,” he said. “I’m not breaching any confidences or secrets but if you want to know what the Queen is really like or you want to know what Diana was like, I am going to tell you. I am going to be honest and frank, everything I say in the jungle will be the truth.” But Burrell, who was nicknamed “the whimpering butler” thanks to his behaviour during a tucker trial back in 2004, says he’s a totally different man now. “I have evolved since [2004], I am a different person," he said. “I’m a nearly 60-year-old man, I’m a newlywed, I came out, all in one year. “The response I have had from people all around the world has been amazing. I am waiting for the negativity and I will answer it, but I have learned from two incredible and unique human beings, the Queen and Princess Diana. “I know what the Queen would say to me and that is, 'There’s no room in this world for racism, homophobia, bullying or sexism.’” Image credit: @ImACelebrityAU/Twitter.

News

The first thing you should do when entering your hotel room

After getting off your flight, navigating through a busy terminal, hailing a taxi and lugging your bags to your hotel room, you’d be excused for wanting a bit of a lie down. But many travel experts think this is a bad idea. Before you do anything else, the first thing you should do when entering a new hotel room, is peeling back the bedding, and checking for any traces of bed bugs. <a href="http://www.time.com/" target="_blank">Time Magazine travel writers</a> Brad Tuttle and Erik Torkells explain: “The first thing you should do in a new room: peel back the bedding and check the seams of the mattress for traces of bedbugs — bloodstains or actual bugs.” It goes without saying that bedbugs are probably the last souvenir you want to be bringing home from your trip, which is why you must also be cautious about your bag. “The main way travellers bring bedbugs home is when their bags get infested after touching bedspreads or mattresses,” Tuttle and Torkells write. “When packing or unpacking your bag, put it on an upholstered piece of furniture — a dresser or one of those folding luggage stands. Also, avoid putting your clothes into dresser drawers, if possible. Keep your possessions in your luggage or hang things up in the closet instead.” Were you aware of this tip? Have you ever brought bed bugs home?

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