Author: Julie Blakey

Reforming the Australian grocery market

Post author By Julie Blakey
Post date 21 February 2024

Julie Blakey

21 February 2024

A call for consumer-centric reforms

The Australian grocery landscape is painted in familiar colours, the red and white of Coles and the green of Woolworths, jointly wielding a staggering two-thirds of the market share. While stability might seem inherent to such dominance, concerns simmer beneath the surface, raising questions about the impact on competition, pricing, and the very spirit of innovation within the sector.

Recent years have seen Australian wallets strained like never before. Soaring interest rates and living costs have triggered a fundamental shift in consumer behaviour, with individuals becoming laser-focused on price and seeking every avenue to stretch their grocery budgets. In this climate of financial stress, the potential for inflated prices due to the duopoly becomes a particularly sensitive issue.

Allegations against Coles and Woolworths suggest prices may be rising faster than wholesale costs, placing a disproportionate burden on household budgets, especially for those already struggling to make ends meet. This price discrepancy raises serious questions about the true cost of convenience in a duopoly-dominated market.

"Allegations against Coles and Woolworths suggest prices may be rising faster than wholesale costs, placing a disproportionate burden on household budgets, especially for those already struggling to make ends meet. This price discrepancy raises serious questions about the true cost of convenience in a duopoly-dominated market.."

Beyond the immediate concern of pricing, the lack of competition presents another long-term worry, the stifling of innovation. The almost forgotten Bi-Lo as an emerging brand in 1983, was the first grocery retailer in the country to bring scanning technology to checkouts, changing the way we shop forever. Without the pressure of competitors vying for market share, Coles and Woolworths may have less incentive to invest in new technologies, product offerings, and overall shopping experiences. This lack of dynamism could leave Australian consumers lagging behind their global counterparts in terms of grocery innovation and convenience.

Addressing these concerns requires a multi-faceted approach that prioritises both competition and consumer well-being. There are various avenues for government intervention to foster a more competitive and consumer-friendly grocery market.

Lowering the entry barrier and welcoming new players

Streamlining regulations and reducing red tape: simplifying licensing processes, zoning restrictions, and tax burdens can create a more welcoming environment for new entrants, encouraging them to challenge the established players.
Facilitating mergers and acquisitions: encouraging consolidation among smaller players can create a more diversified market landscape, offering consumers a wider range of choices and potentially increasing competition.
Investing in infrastructure: supporting the development of essential infrastructure, such as cold storage facilities, can address logistical hurdles faced by new entrants, leveling the playing field.

Transparency: shining a light on pricing and practices

Mandating increased data disclosure: requiring Coles and Woolworths to disclose more detailed information on pricing, profits, and executive compensation can enhance market transparency and hold them accountable to fair practices.
Empowering the ACCC: granting the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) greater authority to investigate and prosecute anti-competitive practices, including heftier fines and penalties, can deter unfair business tactics.
Establishing an independent price commission: as proposed by former ACCC chair Allan Fels, an independent body dedicated to monitoring and regulating grocery prices could help prevent price gouging and ensure fair competition.

Empowering choice and knowledge

Promoting unit pricing: encouraging the widespread adoption of unit pricing makes it easier for consumers to compare prices across different products and brands, empowering informed purchasing decisions.
Supporting alternative retailers: providing financial assistance, support and access to resources can help independent grocers, online retailers, and farmers’ markets flourish, offering consumers valuable alternatives to the dominant players.
Investing in consumer education: launching public awareness campaigns and providing educational resources can equip consumers with the knowledge and skills to shop strategically, compare prices effectively, and manage their grocery budgets efficiently.

The ongoing duopoly debate underscores a critical juncture for the Australian grocery sector. With consumer welfare paramount, the call for reform echoes the need for a balanced and competitive landscape. By prioritising transparency, fostering innovation, and empowering consumers, government intervention can pave the way for a future where the grip of the duopoly loosens, and Australian grocery shelves brim with variety, affordability, and genuine choice.

Author

Graeme Hughes is a highly respected commentator, academic and businessperson, known for his insightful perspectives on various topics such as business, strategy, innovation, leadership, and consumer insights. With an extensive background in entrepreneurship, investment, and business advisory, Graeme has made a significant impact on the Australian business landscape.

As the Director of the Co-Design Lab at Griffith University, Graeme spearheads an experiential learning space that fosters collaboration among students, academics, and industry partners. Graeme has implemented transformative pedagogical approaches, such as collaborative problem-solving workshops and interdisciplinary design challenges, significantly boosting student engagement and employability. His dedication to educational innovation was acknowledged in 2023 when Graeme was named one of Australia’s top 50 teachers – a testament to his commitment to inspiring the next generation.

Business and government

A mathematical exploration of Taylor Swift’s music

A mathematical analysis of Taylor Swift’s music over time reveals an evolving lyrical diversity that reflects shifts in songwriting collaborations and highlights the intriguing intersections between mathematics and pop culture says mathematician Dr Nathan Garland.

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Vaping has become synonymous with chic designs and diverse flavours conceals a hazardous reality. That it contains 200 chemicals, including arsenic and acrolein. Young adults, enticed by vaping, face a public health crisis with nicotine dependency. Vaping-specific cessation programs fall short, prompting Griffith University researchers to co-design a tailored program.

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Global heatwaves are causing severe human suffering, with vulnerable populations facing escalating risks. Urgent questions arise about mobility, decent work, health access, homelessness, mental health, and essential services during extreme heat says Professor Susan Harris Rimmer.

Society and culture

Sound strategies for reading

Post author By Julie Blakey
Post date 15 February 2024

Julie Blakey

15 February 2024

Phonics is of foundational importance

In the realm of Australian education, the mandate to follow the Australian Curriculum English underscores the foundational importance of phonics instruction in schools. Contrary to misconceptions, the notion that teachers can opt out of teaching phonics is debunked by the curriculum’s clear directives. However, navigating the landscape of reading instruction entails more than simply mastering phonics. It encompasses a multifaceted approach that addresses the diverse needs of learners, including those with complex learning requirements or multilingual backgrounds.

All schools are legislated to follow the Australian Curriculum English, which mandates the teaching of phonics and word knowledge from the foundation year onwards. In the Australian Curriculum English, the teaching of phonics commences in the foundation year and continues through to Year 6 where students apply phonics to increasingly complex words. The claim that teachers can opt out of teaching phonics is not true.

"Contrary to misconceptions, the notion that teachers can opt out of teaching phonics is debunked by the curriculum's clear directives."

Phonics has a genuine purpose

Learning to read in English is enormously complex for all students, and more so for students with complex learning needs or students who speak multiple languages. Phonics is only one of the reading skills that must be mastered. Students also need high level comprehension skills to make meaning from the full range of subject areas texts they’ll meet in the primary and secondary years of schooling. Another essential reading skill is being a critical reader, such as being able to discern fact from fiction, and deciding how to respond to texts they don’t agree with. The important point is that phonics, comprehension, and critical reading need to be developed concurrently so that the phonics learning has a genuine purpose. The concurrent development of reading comprehension and critical reading is also a requirement of the Australian Curriculum English. It doesn’t make sense to delay comprehension and critical reading skills until a child has mastered phonics.

The teaching of reading must be more than skilling and drilling phonics exercises, or reading the little introductory phonics texts about ‘the cat that sat on the mat’ or ‘the frog that fell off the log’. Teachers also introduce whole texts to children to build understandings of how stories, information texts and persuasive texts work, including the vocabulary that is used, and the different ways of constructing sentences. This is called the balanced approach to teaching reading and this is where teachers can choose texts that motivate students and engage them as readers.

Quality teaching is taking place

The balanced approach to the teaching of reading throughout the primary school years is working. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released a ten year report on teaching in Australian schools at the end of 2023. That report found that holistically, over the years of schooling, the teaching of reading in Australian schools is high performing, “with mixed outcomes for older school students and equity challenges”. The overall reading performance of Year 4 students has improved considerably from 2011 to 2016, as indicated by the Progress in International Reading Study (PIRLS), and the reading performance of Year 3 and 5 students in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) improved over 2008-2011. The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), also conducted by the OECD, found that Australian students who attended two years of early education and care prior to commencing school “performed 17 score points higher in reading than their peers who had not, even after controlling for socio-economic background”. Teachers are making a difference to students’ reading outcomes.

The OECD report provides hard evidence of the quality teaching taking place in many Australian classrooms over the last ten years, alongside the importance of a high quality early years learning experience, all of which deserve greater recognition from politicians and the media.

Author

Professor Beryl Exley is an experienced classroom teacher and lecturer with the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University. Her research interests are in English Curriculum, enactment of teacher knowledge and pedagogic rights for a range of stakeholders. She is a past National President of the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA) and is a proud ALEA life member.

Society and culture

A mathematical exploration of Taylor Swift’s music

Combatting the vaping epidemic

The escalating human toll of extreme heat

Media and the arts Science and technology

A mathematical exploration of Taylor Swift’s music

Post author By Julie Blakey
Post date 13 February 2024

Julie Blakey

13 February 2024

For the last couple of years, it seems we’ve hit never-seen-before peaks of attention across the internet devoted to Taylor Swift and her music, personal life, and everything else in between. Now the discussions around Swift and her music have popped up in academic circles. Recently, highly regarded universities such as Harvard, Stanford, NYU, and UT Austin (among others) have offered university subjects based on the singer. In 2024 academics from across the world are converging on Melbourne, Australia for a conference entirely devoted to the research and study of Taylor Swift.

So, you might ask: What does the study of Taylor Swift actually look like? In the study of music, society, popular culture you might expect the field to be solely the domain of sociologists, historians, philosophers, psychologists and law researchers, and of course music academics. As an applied mathematics and science academic at Griffith University, I found myself wondering (and wanting to challenge myself to come up with an answer): Where would maths fit in with this Taylor-Swift-ology? What could maths techniques bring to the table for studying the music of Taylor Swift?

Insights from mathematical analysis

One option we can explore comes from a field called information theory, where folks try to study the ways and methods of communication in one form or another. In particular, we can try to look at the words found in song lyrics and then to measure what words occur, and their frequency. We can use a formula to calculate a measurement of each song called the “entropy” of a text, in this case a song’s lyrics, given the probabilities, p, of each word occurring in a song’s lyrics.

This measure of word entropy can be thought of as a way to measure the amount of information content within a text. A very repetitive text would have a lower score, while a text with a wide vocabulary often has a higher score. Some people also describe the entropy score as a measure of the diversity, the variability, or sometimes the “surprise” in a text. As an introduction to this idea, we could check out the Billboard Hot 100 songs of each year from 1965-2015 and what we see is a graph like that below. Each song is represented by a pale blue dot – the darker the blue the more dots there are packed together.

Freestyling to the fore

As time goes on, we can use the red line to show the average lyrical diversity of songs, which seems to increase – with a surge around 1980 onwards with some of the high scores coming from tracks by Kool & the Gang and Run DMC. The notable stack of points around the year 2000 that uplift the yearly average are from artists like Eminem, Jay-Z, and OutKast among others. The mathematics is showing the popularisation and widespread adoption of hip-hop and rap music!

If we now apply this formula to the lyrics of Taylor Swift’s discography we can produce a graph like the one shown below. Each dot point represents a song on an album. The data for this was surprisingly easy to find, as an academic has kindly compiled an easy-to-use database.

Entropy by eras

For this example, the actual numbers of the score aren’t so much what matters. For convenience we have dropped in a green line showing the average entropy score for each album. What is interesting is to consider is how the general trend changes over time and in the context of how Taylor Swift’s music genres change, as well as her campaigns for ownership and self-determination of her creative output. For each album, if we consider the song-writing credits on each song, we read that the bulk of her early songs were completely written solo, or with the assistance of one main collaborator. Indeed, the Speak Now album was entirely written by her alone. This lyrical pattern, or the habits or techniques naturally occurring in lyrics that are written primarily by one author have previously been proposed as a way to identify songwriters uniquely – think of it like a signature or fingerprint of their style. These techniques have even been used as a forensic tool to help decide on song-writing disputes through the courts.

The impact of collaborations

As more pop-focused albums release the song-writing credits on the albums get more complicated. There are fewer completely solo credited songs, along with many producers and co-writers providing input, some tweaks here and there perhaps based on their experience of pop song-writing.

This is also reflected in what the mathematics tells us! As a result of the input of others, and perhaps changing genres, we see a slight decrease in the average entropy scores compared to earlier albums, as well as a much wider spread of scores for albums such as Red and 1989 for example. As you might expect from having many cooks in the song-writing kitchen, the mathematics shows us that there can be a much larger range of values the entropy score might take.

As mentioned previously, it is important to consider what the numbers from formulas appear to tell us with the backdrop of Taylor’s evolution in song-writing ownership and creative direction. Following a period of collaboration and input from many wide-ranging creative influences, the entropy scores in recent years now appear to revert to similar trends and structures found from her earlier albums. While many of these newer songs are indeed co-credited, most are with well-known songwriters such as Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner and when considering the textual structure and mathematical features of word choices appearing through the song lyrics it appears, for the most part, that the trend is reverting to Taylor’s older album structures.

"Following a period of collaboration and input from many wide-ranging creative influences, the entropy scores in recent years now appear to revert to similar trends and structures found from her earlier albums."

This example highlights an interesting way that maths may be used to study a topic, which at first glance seems it might have absolutely nothing to do with maths.

However, if you can pick some suitable tools and have an open mind, we are able to see a remarkably clear narrative from just one graph in this case of Taylor Swift’s tracks. This approach is a key idea behind what many scientists do when we build a mathematical model: we want to try to capture some elements of interesting scenarios that occur in the real world and have that reflected in the mathematics. I have no doubt there are many other tricky things that could be done to analyse music in new ways.

As a final note, a little piece of trivia: one might be curious what this brief analysis using information theory indicates as the most “lyrically diverse” or “information-rich” song in the Taylor Swift catalogue? Checking the results from the above graph, it might come as no surprise to many avid ‘Swifties’ that they will already know the answer All Too Well!

Article updated 24 April 2024: Following the release of The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD) the new “maximum word entropy” song But Daddy I Love Him knocks off All Too Well.

Author

Dr Nathan Garland is a lecturer in Applied Mathematics and Physics at Griffith University, Australia. Prior to joining Griffith, Nathan was a post-doctoral researcher in the Theoretical Division at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, USA. His areas of research interest are based around computational modelling of plasmas in various applications, and the integration of high-quality atomic input data into plasma modelling frameworks.

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In the aftermath of recent cyclones, South-east Queensland residents should remain alert – especially the catchments downstream of Wivenhoe Dam says Griffith University’s Dr Margaret Cook.

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Combatting the vaping epidemic

Post author By Julie Blakey
Post date 6 February 2024

Julie Blakey

6 February 2024

At a time when vaping has become synonymous with trendy designs and a multitude of flavours, the harsh reality often goes unnoticed. Deep within the vapours, a cocktail of more than 200 dangerous chemicals lurks, threatening the respiratory health of those who choose to indulge. From arsenic, a chemical found in rat poison, to acrolein found in weedkiller, and xylene commonly used in paint strippers – these are just a few of the hazardous substances ingested by users every time they take a puff.

Nicotine, the highly addictive component that triggers the release of pleasure-inducing chemicals in the brain, adds another layer of concern. Shockingly, individuals who venture into the world of vaping are three times more likely to transition to smoking traditional cigarettes.

"Deep within the vapours, a cocktail of more than 200 dangerous chemicals lurks, threatening the respiratory health of those who choose to indulge. From arsenic, a chemical found in rat poison, to acrolein found in weedkiller, and xylene commonly used in paint strippers ..."

The primary demographic for vaping is young adults aged 18–24, captivated by the allure of chic designs and an overwhelming array of flavours. However, the consequences of this seemingly harmless trend are surfacing as a public health crisis. Evidence suggests that unintentional nicotine dependence is gripping young adults, and many are desperately seeking a way out.

Existing smoking cessation programs have so far proven insufficient, emphasizing the pressing need for targeted vaping cessation support. Yet, the complexities surrounding vaping cessation remain inadequately understood.

To address this gap in knowledge, Griffith University research is co-designing a vaping cessation program tailored to the unique needs of young adults seeking to quit. A national online survey targeting current and former vapers has been meticulously designed to explore their vaping patterns, device preferences, flavour choices, concurrent smoking habits, quit intentions, and attempts. The goal is to understand their experiences and to identify effective strategies.

Survey results revealing

The survey results reveal a disturbing trend – the majority of current vapers indulge in the habit daily, with one in five also supplementing it with traditional cigarette smoking. Two-thirds of participants attempted to quit within the past 12 months, with “going cold turkey” emerging as the most common strategy.

To further enhance the vaping cessation program, a series of co-design workshops to engage vapers and former vapers in a collaborative process. Their insights will help generate innovative ideas for the design of an effective cessation model. Insights garnered from both the survey and co-design workshops will contribute to the development of a comprehensive vaping cessation model.

In the face of an escalating vaping epidemic, understanding the nuances of young adult vaping patterns and cessation intentions is crucial. By co-designing a targeted cessation program, we aim to empower individuals, particularly young adults, to liberate themselves from the shackles of inhaling these perilous and addictive chemicals. Our collective efforts are not only in the pursuit of knowledge but also in crafting a healthier and safer future for the generations to come.

Author

Nicola Rahman is a PhD candidate and social scientist with a special interest in drug and alcohol related health issues. Nicola’s current research is a mixed methods study co-designing a vaping cessation program for young Australian adults, to better support young people wishing to quit.

Health and wellbeing

Shreddology

The pursuit of unrealistic body ideals, shaped by social pressures and online influencers, particularly impacts young men, leading to dissatisfaction and risky behaviours like using image and performance-enhancing drugs (IPEDs) says Dr Tim Piatkowski.

Avoid stigmatising patients who seek emergency contraception

Emergency contraception, often called the ‘morning after’ pill, is used by individuals to prevent unintended pregnancy. Pharmacists play a crucial role in providing this medication. The timeliness and professionalism of their services are vital, as these medications have limited effectiveness windows. However, the use of intrusive checklists to gather information has been discouraged since 2022, as it can hinder patient care and sensitivity says Griffith University’s Denise Hope.

Addressing coercive control

Griffith University stands firm in its commitment to reduce harm and build a better future for all with several key initiatives aimed at preventing violence and facilitating peaceful, just, and equitable communities.

Environment and sustainability

Is the Wivenhoe Dam really the guardian of the River City?

Post author By Julie Blakey
Post date 29 January 2024

Julie Blakey

29 January 2024

Three days after Cyclone Kirrily crossed the coast at Townsville on 25^th January 2024 the Bureau of Meteorology issued warnings of a slow-moving trough likely to form over southeast Queensland, warning of local moderate to heavy rainfall and possible floods. In the five weeks since Cyclone Jasper in mid-December 2023, ants and snakes, animals always attuned to weather changes, had already started moving to higher ground.

The region’s humidity is stifling, low-lying areas are collecting puddles with some roads cut and the ground is soaked from a wet summer. These are the perfect confluence of events that can lead to flooding.

Still cyclone season

It is worth remembering that in Brisbane’s 1974 flood Cyclone Wanda brought a rain depression that drenched the entire Brisbane River catchment. In 1893, two massive floods followed a cyclone in February. Disaster-hardened Queenslanders will be mindful that cyclone season is not over yet.

Flood warnings have been issued for Laidley Creek, Lockyer Creek and the Bremer River as locals watch the waters rise and local councils are on alert. Why are these catchments important? All of them are downstream of Wivenhoe Dam. Should heavy rain falls into these unregulated catchments they flow into the Brisbane River and can cause Brisbane flooding.

"... The Sunday Mail declaring that with Wivenhoe Dam ‘Brisbane should see an end to major floods’. Brisbane residents readily pinned their hopes on the dam as their great protector. Decades of real estate agents, property owners, and local and state governments have either promoted their myth, or supported it through silence or inaction to prevent development on the floodplain."

Harmful myths persist

It is an often-misunderstood flood fact is that only half (52%) of the Brisbane River is regulated by Wivenhoe and Somerset dams. But many people in Brisbane believe that Wivenhoe Dam will protect them; it can save the city from flooding. But the Wivenhoe Dam myth is a fallacy.

Wivenhoe Dam, 150 kilometres from the mouth of the Brisbane River, was approved by Cabinet in 1971 and fast-tracked after the 1974 floods. Premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen, announced that the dam ‘would be pushed ahead as quickly as possible for flood mitigation’. Three times the size of Somerset Dam (completed in 1959), Wivenhoe could increase Southeast Queensland’s water supply by 80 per cent, store five years water supply, and hold 1,970,000 megalitres in temporary flood storage.

At the opening of Wivenhoe Dam in October 1985 Joh Bjelke-Petersen fuelled the myth declaring that he ‘doubted if the 1974 flood could occur again because the dam would absorb an enormous quantity of water before any had to be released’. Newspapers propagated the myth of flood proofing, The Courier Mail proclaiming ‘Flood Threat Past: Sir Joh’ and The Sunday Mail declaring that with Wivenhoe Dam ‘Brisbane should see an end to major floods’. Brisbane residents readily pinned their hopes on the dam as their great protector. Decades of real estate agents, property owners, and local and state governments have either promoted their myth, or supported it through silence or inaction to prevent development on the floodplain.

When Brisbane experienced the 2011 floods, the Queensland Flood Commission of Inquiry, the media, and a class action perpetuated misinformation that Wivenhoe Dam can save Brisbane from floods if operated correctly. The floods in 2022, largely caused in north Brisbane by inundation from creeks and overland flow from heavy rain (outside the dam’s catchment), should have helped dispel the fallacy that the dams “flood-proof” Brisbane, but the myth endures.

Dangers of a downstream flood

The perception of safety is an illusion. Dams can mitigate floods and reduce flood heights, but they cannot prevent them. The water release strategy can minimise flood heights downstream by managing the flows, but dams have a finite capacity. Ultimately, water must be released. The safety of the dam cannot be risked. If the dam wall breaks, there would be uncontrolled flow and southeast Queensland’s water supply would be severely compromised for years.

It is nature that determines the character of the flood and the efficacy of the dam. The location, intensity and timing of rainfall will determine the location, duration, and extent of the flooding. Hydrologists refer to floods, that occur upstream of the dam as favourable floods. Unfortunately, a downstream or unfavourable flood is just as likely, and Wivenhoe Dam can play only a minimal role.

Floods will come again and they may be bigger than those previously experienced. Climate change may bring more frequent and greater floods and our current flood mitigation strategies and dependency on dams will not be enough to protect Brisbane.

Perpetuating the Wivenhoe myth is dangerous. It creates false hope that floods can be prevented and puts lives and property at risk. It does nothing to dissuade people from building on the floodplain or for regulators to reconsider land use plans, sustainable designs or building materials, or policies that will relocate people from danger and seek other forms of flood mitigation.

As the Bureau of Meteorology issues flood warnings, Brisbane residents would be wise not to rely on Wivenhoe Dam to save them.

Author

Dr Margaret Cook is an environmental historian whose research interests concentrate on the dynamic between humans and nature over time with a focus on water.

Margaret joined Griffith University in the Australian Rivers Institute as a Research Fellow in 2022 working with Professor Sue Jackson on the Water Cultures (Murray Darling Basin) ARC project. Margaret is the author of “A River with a City Problem: A History of Brisbane Floods“.

Environment and sustainability

Blood collection tubes Group A Streptococcus(strep A)

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Strep A (Streptococcus pyogenes) is a major cause of infection-related deaths, leading to over 500,000 fatalities annually. Developing countries, Indigenous populations, and vulnerable groups face the greatest risks. A potential vaccine, developed by Professor Michael Good’s team at Griffith University, is undergoing human trials and shows promise in fighting multiple Strep A strains.

Combatting placement poverty

Many Australian students are struggling with the rising cost of living and are taking on additional paid work while studying. Some students, especially those in health-related fields like nursing and midwifery, are facing “placement poverty” due to extensive unpaid placement hours. Addressing placement poverty is crucial to ensure a strong and diverse healthcare workforce in the future.

The impact of YouTube on mental health

YouTube wields significant influence on mental health. It’s a double-edged sword, fostering both positive and negative effects. Parasocial relationships with content creators can deepen loneliness, especially among the vulnerable. YouTube can also educate, connect, and support mental well-being through informative content and communities as suicide prevention researcher Dr Luke Balcombe explains.

Business and government Environment and sustainability

The escalating human toll of extreme heat

Post author By Julie Blakey
Post date 22 January 2024

Julie Blakey

22 January 2024

The heat records just keep breaking; it’s much hotter for much longer.

As our communities grapple with record-breaking temperatures and prolonged heatwaves, the human cost of extreme heat events is becoming increasingly evident. July 2023 has marked the hottest global average temperature on record, with the Northern Hemisphere experiencing relentless heatwaves spanning from the United States and Southern Europe to North Africa and East Asia. Beyond the alarming headlines, the true toll lies in the loss of lives and social harm, particularly in urban areas.

Reports highlight the devastating impact on vulnerable populations, including agricultural and bicycle delivery workers, as well as the elderly, who, having survived COVID-19, succumb to the intense heat within their homes. Global trends indicate a rise in heat-related deaths, with a 2019 Lancet study attributing 356,000 deaths to extreme heat. In July 2023, Spain and Portugal witnessed over 2,000 deaths in a week, predominantly among the elderly. Additionally, emerging evidence from India and Pakistan links heatwaves to adverse effects on pregnancy, including a 5% increase in the risk of premature and stillbirths for every 1-degree celsius temperature rise.

The escalating heat crisis is a consequence of both regional weather patterns and climate change, driven by a 1.1-degree celsius global warming to date. The implications of extreme heat events pose a severe threat to human rights, particularly in regions where social services are crucial. The Southern Hemisphere must acknowledge the inequities exposed by heatwaves and draw lessons from the experiences of the Northern Hemisphere.

In Australia extreme heat events are defined as temperatures sitting 5 degrees above average for three or more days, the Queensland Department of Health warns of serious health risks for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and those with chronic health conditions—all of whom heavily rely on social services.
Heatwaves also impact people’s ability to work, access services, and exacerbate issues related to housing stress, homelessness, energy poverty, power failures, and inadequate housing. Urban planning shortcomings become evident, as certain areas, like Western Sydney, grapple with heat sinks due to past poor planning practices.

While some Australian states, such as South Australia and Melbourne, have implemented strategies to address climate health, the lack of a federal climate health strategy raises concerns about the nation’s readiness for the impending El Nino southern summer.

"Heatwaves also impact people's ability to work, access services, and exacerbate issues related to housing stress, homelessness, energy poverty, power failures, and inadequate housing.."

Key Australian issues

Addressing the following urgent questions and concerns is essential to develop comprehensive strategies that safeguard vulnerable populations, uphold human rights, and mitigate the escalating impacts of extreme heat events on society.

Seasonal mobility

Discussions in Northern Queensland indicate the possibility of people relocating south for relief from extreme heat during January. Will certain regions become uninhabitable on a seasonal basis, impacting sectors like summer sports, agriculture, and tourism?

Decent work

The International Labour Organization (ILO) identifies the concept of ‘decent work,’ emphasizing fair income, workplace security, and social protection. Should the government provide JobKeeper-type payments to outdoor workers during heatwaves, and how can companies implement extreme heat labor safeguards?

Health access

Heat-related stresses on the health system, ambulance callouts, and emergency department visits pose challenges. How can long-term planning address the varying strategies among states and effectively mitigate health risks during hotter months?

Homeless population

Homeless individuals face increased challenges during heatwaves, requiring adequate shelter, food access, and water availability. Can strategies like trauma-informed extreme weather resilience education be expanded, and can public spaces serve as ‘cool banks’?

Mental health

Beyond social connectedness, increased heatwaves impact mental health, potentially leading to aggression and higher suicide rates. How can communities support mental health during extreme heat, drawing lessons from the pandemic?

Electricity bills and access to cooling

Debates on power shutdowns during extreme heat events and eviction policies are crucial. Should utilities companies be allowed to cut off power during heatwaves, and is there a right to air-conditioning in specific spaces?

Rights to air-conditioning and shade

Should the state bear the cost of air-conditioning in various facilities, including early childcare centres, aged care homes, prisons, and schools? What about the provision of free swimming pools in towns lacking air-conditioned spaces? Do citizens have a right to shade in public areas?

Launch of the Climate Action Beacon’s Climate Justice Observatory

In early 2023, Griffith University’s Climate Action Beacon launched its Climate Justice Observatory in Birdsville to explore these questions and more. The Observatory will apply the established human rights methodologies of observatories – the provision of reliable information, equity data, climate modelling, long- form journalism and multidisciplinary expert analysis – to the question of climate justice. This online resource will allow citizens to monitor issues, map local problems and crowd- source solutions while also providing campaign resources.

With its first work focused on heatwaves in Queensland, the Climate Justice Observatory has begun the critical work of monitoring and tracking the development of laws, policies and justice interventions in this region and beyond, adding value to existing open-access global resources for citizen education and action everywhere.

The Observatory is a growing and living resource designed to be updated as our knowledge grows, and the impacts of climate change becomes clearer. Griffith University is keen to partner with and source contributions from across Queensland and Australia to help build our knowledge-base of climate justice, so feel free to get in touch.

Author

Professor Susan Harris Rimmer focuses on international human rights law, climate justice and gender equality in the Griffith Law School and is a member of the Law Futures Centre. She was the Director of the Griffith University Policy Innovation Hub (from July 2020 – December 2023). She was previously the Deputy Head of School (Research) in the Griffith Law School and prior to joining Griffith was the Director of Studies at the ANU Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy.

Business and government, Environment and sustainability

A cruel summer

Summer 2023-24 is marked by a return to El Niño and has prompted concerns that rising temperatures, worsened by climate change, will threaten health, productivity, and safety. Griffith University’s Dr Aaron Bach suggests some strategies from workplace adjustments to home cooling tips aimed at beating the heat.

Lessons from the Optus outage for remote Australia

The Optus outage in Australia, affecting 10 million customers, exposed the vulnerability of telecommunications, especially in remote areas. While urban disruptions garnered attention, rural communities faced greater challenges, emphasizing the normalcy of such events says Dr Amber Marshall.

Ideas for a brighter future for all

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Entropy by eras

The impact of collaborations

"Following a period of collaboration and input from many wide-ranging creative influences, the entropy scores in recent years now appear to revert to similar trends and structures found from her earlier albums."

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Julie Blakey

"Deep within the vapours, a cocktail of more than 200 dangerous chemicals lurks, threatening the respiratory health of those who choose to indulge. From arsenic, a chemical found in rat poison, to acrolein found in weedkiller, and xylene commonly used in paint strippers ..."

Survey results revealing

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Julie Blakey

Still cyclone season

Harmful myths persist

Dangers of a downstream flood

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Julie Blakey

The heat records just keep breaking; it’s much hotter for much longer.

"Heatwaves also impact people's ability to work, access services, and exacerbate issues related to housing stress, homelessness, energy poverty, power failures, and inadequate housing.."

Key Australian issues

Seasonal mobility

Decent work

Health access

Homeless population

Mental health

Electricity bills and access to cooling

Rights to air-conditioning and shade

Launch of the Climate Action Beacon’s Climate Justice Observatory

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