The Australian Federal Police's Victim Identification Team is worthy of a lot of praise, but not a lot of people know about it or consider the fact that the work they do is extremely traumatic work done by real people.

Kirsty Clarke and Kate Laidler are both a part of the team, and they talk to 10 News First's Chloe Bouras about this unenviable but vital job.

This episode contains discussion of child sexual abuse. If this causes any issues for you, please contact ReachOut at https://au.reachout.com or Lifeline at https://www.lifeline.org.au or by calling 13 11 14.

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"I'm nobody's puppet, nobody's girl!

In the final episode of this season of Women of the House, Stela talks to Kristina Keneally about her perspective on the culture in parliament and what it means to have been the first woman premier of New South Wales.

Reported by Stela Todorovic

Produced by Sydney Pead

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A minister's hand on her knee during a late-night vote at Parliament House left Julia Banks shocked. If this could happen to her, a 52-year-old corporate lawyer-turned-MP, who else is it happening to? Julia Banks opens about the sexism and bullying that lead to her resignation from the Liberal party, and this government's "women problem."

In response to Julia Banks' comments, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister said:

“The Prime Minister was disappointed in Ms Banks’ decision to quit the Parliamentary party and had several conversations with her to understand what she was going through to see what support could be offered before she made her decision. That included support for personal leave so she could take the time to recover from the upset many people suffered during that period. Several of Ms Banks’ colleagues had similar conversations.

“The Prime Minister absolutely rejects claims about the nature of those conversations.

“The Prime Minister is not aware of any allegations of sexual harassment Ms Banks faced. Any such behaviour is completely inappropriate.

“Everyone has a right to feel safe in their workplace, and the work currently underway by Kate Jenkins will continue to improve Parliament’s workplace culture.

“In addition, the Government has released the consultation report provided by Stephanie Foster PSM into the processes and procedures relating to serious incidents in the parliamentary workplace. This report has made some significant findings and recommendations to improve how serious incidents are prevented and dealt with in the parliamentary workplace. We have already taken steps to implement Ms Foster's recommendations, including the introduction of a dedicated 24/7 support line, 1800 274 778, and face-to-face education and support for parliamentarians and their staff.

“The Foster Report also provides a recommendation for an independent and confidential support mechanism. This body of work is complex, however consultation across the Parliament is underway. The Government looks forward to Ms Foster bringing back a final report, informed by those briefings, as soon as possible.”

Reported by Stela Todorovic

Produced by Sydney Pead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Having suffered from family violence, Lidia Thorpe was a survivor many times over before she entered politics and became Victoria's first and only First Nations senator.

But her battle with harassment was far from over.

Instead, she says she's one of many women in Canberra who have fallen victim to the sexism, entitlement, and inappropriate behaviour she feels is rife within Parliament House. 

Reported by Stela Todorovic

Produced by Sydney Pead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tanya Plibersek has always been proud of her time in government, except for one major regret: she feels she and the Australian Labor Party let down their former leader Julia Gillard by ignoring the torrent of sexism and misogyny she faced. Now with Parliament's workplace culture under the microscope in the wake of sexual assault allegations, she admits many more people have been let down since. 

Reported by Stela Todorovic

Produced by Sydney Pead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A single comment from Tony Abbott pointing to a "certain amount of sex appeal" in Fiona Scott was enough to label the former Liberal MP with a stigma she'd struggle to shake for her entire political career.

Reported by Stela Todorovic

Produced by Sydney Pead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Hanson-Young's biggest and most public battle with sexism came via a defamation lawsuit against former Liberal-Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm. A targeted media blitz in 2018 put her at the centre of a slut-shaming campaign. But the war started long before and has been raging since she entered politics aged just 25. Behind the closed doors of parliament, Senator Hanson-Young reveals a constant barrage of misogyny and sexualised bullying which has largely remained undisturbed - until now. 

Reported by Stela Todorovic

Produced by Sydney Pead

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Three-year-old Tharnicaa has been living on Christmas Island for almost two years with her asylum-seeking family. Her recent medical flight to a Perth hospital suffering with undiagnosed pneumonia and sepsis has highlighted the family's treatment in detention and the desperate situation for refugees in offshore centres.

George Newhouse, a human rights lawyer, and CEO of the National Justice Project explains why the Biloela family is still in detention, and the bleak impact of Australia's immigration policy.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most of Australia's biggest cities have seen snap COVID-19 lockdowns, but none as frequently or devastatingly as Melbourne. 

Today, the people of the Victorian capital entered their fourth lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic as part of state-wide measures to curb a growing number of cases. 

But why does this keep happening in Melbourne?

Is it the response, the rules, the roll out? 

Melbourne epidemiologist Prof. Nancy Baxter says it's mostly bad luck, and other cities could be next.

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