In May, the South Australian Government launched a feasibility study for a proposed ban on social media access for people under 16 years of age following mounting concerns about young people’s mental health. This comes after the February 2023 decision to ban the use of mobile phones in all South Australian public schools, responding to reports of ‘out of control’ bullying and deteriorating student performances in schools. But, is a social media ban worth its buck?

We interview Sania Ali, a young change maker seeking to make the world a better place.

It is said we live in historic times. Recent events have taken this beyond the joke. In one month, we have seen the worst presidential television debate in history, the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump and the incumbent President Joe Biden withdraw from the race – despite being the presumptive nominee.

The role of the Governor-General is becoming increasingly scrutinised for its actual relevance to Australia’s modern democracy. But is this critique really fair?

The current draft legislation aims to safeguard democracy against third party interests. However, it is unclear whether it will strengthen our democracy, or just empower third party interests further.

In May 2024, the South Australian government announced their intention to potentially prevent children under the age of 14 from accessing social media, and requiring parental consent for 14 and 15 year olds to use social media platforms.

The ban comes as reports of increased mental health concerns stemming from social media use have peppered mainstream media outlets for the first half of the year. There have been vocal advocates for an against the ban, and the Hub Interns have some thoughts.

Australia’s climate wars are nothing new. Since the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1998, numerous governments (both Labor and Liberal) have failed to strengthen Australia’s energy standing, however can the Coalition’s public embrace of nuclear energy shift the debate?

Every year, on a cool night in Autumn, the Australian Government releases their budget papers. The papers outline how the government plans to spend the country’s money over the coming years. It is a cornerstone of government policy and often a test to establish how well they are caretaking the economy.

The South Australian government wants to increase record low voter turnout in local government elections. This begs the question, could young people be the solution?

The Office for Youth has released a detailed strategy to assist the Australian Government to develop its relationship with Australian youth, while also offering an ambitious glimpse into a youth empowered future. 

Australia is a big contributor to climate change with Australia being the highest emitter of C02 per person in the world and if strong enough actions are not taken to address the climate crisis, there will be serious consequences such as an increase in natural disasters, species becoming extinct, a rise in global temperatures, and growth in illness rates.

The Australian Government has a duty of care to reduce national emissions and effectively combat environmental issues to protect the future of its citizens.