In November, Hong Kong Polytechnic University was under siege by the police. Protests had been increasing in violence and this was arguably the most intense stand-off. But what compelled protesters to continue fighting?

Reporter Benjamin Polazzon spoke to Teaching Fellow at the University of Melbourne Brendan Clift about their resolve and the future of the movement.

Originally aired in November of 2019. 

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In 2019, Hong Kong saw a wave of protests against unpopular legislation and the creeping influence of mainland China.

Reporter Benjamin Polazzon spoke to Teaching Fellow at the University of Melbourne Brendan Clift about how history has had an undeniable impact on the protests that occur today.

Originally aired in October of 2019.

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The tourism and hospitality industry are bearing the brunt of the pandemic. Jobs are at an all time low and the reopening of boarders may be a long way off.

Reporter Millie Spencer spoke to Taylah Rigo, a recent graduate of Event Management, who explained how COVID has impacted her industry and Prof. Prem Chherti from RMIT who discussed his concerns that face the industry.

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Earlier this year, the mining company Rio Tinto destroyed Juukan gorge, a 46,000 year old heritage-listed site. After apologising, Rio Tinto has still kept plans to destroy a further 124 Indigenous sites.

Reporter Anneliese Farrer spoke to Jamie Lowe, CEO of the National Native Title Council, to see how this can happen and what the public do to elevate Traditional Owners voices.

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In a continuation from our last News Talks, reporters Anneliese Farrer and Wing Kuang speak to Don Doughty, immediate past Vice President of the Council for International Students Australia, Erin Chew and Thomson Ch’ng from the Asian Australian Alliance.

They discuss an interesting concept: has the coronavirus shaken Australia's image as one of the most multicultural and cohesive societies?

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Originally aired in February 2019, reporter Benjamin Polazzon looks at the never-ending coverage of climate change and how Australia is responding to its devastating impacts.

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Worried about climate change? You're not alone. A study from the ABC/Vox Pop Labs revealed that while many people were concerned about global warming, it was of particularly significant to youth.

Katie Martin spoke to Prof. Dan Woodman about the results and if the future is as bleak as it seems.

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Climate change is eroding the lands of those most vulnerable to the climate crisis. When Torres Strait Islanders were told they are likely to become climate refugees in the next 30 to 50 years, they decided to take on the Australian Government through protest, petition, and even a United Nations complaint.

Laura Green spoke to Torres Strait Islander man and complainant to the UN about his communities’ struggle to be heard by their government. 

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Our reporters Anneliese Farrer and Wing Kuang speak to Don Doughty, immediate past Vice President of the Council for International Students Australia, Erin Chew and Thomson Ch’ng from the Asian Australian Alliance.

They discussed the difficulty for international students to return home and how to deal with the new pressures COVID-19 has brought them. They also talked about the increase in racism against Asian-Australians and what needs to be done to address this.

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Do you start to feel tired when the seasons change? Do you feel sleepy when Spring hits? Wing Kuang spoke to the University of Melbourne's School of Psychological Science Dr. Amy Jordan about seasonal lethargy.

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