Ben and Macca talk to Joy’s own, Paul Byrne-Moroney from The I in Us, the impact of President Trump’s EO’s on the intersex community because the Administrations policy rhetoric

Here’s what to know about Trump’s Executive Orders.

Attempt to Re-define Sex As Binary:

This order claims there are only two sexes, male and female, defined by the production of reproductive cells “at conception.” Science doesn’t agree with this definition—no embryo produces reproductive cells at conception. The goal is to push an ideology of erasure of both transgender and intersex people. This definition of sex doesn’t address people with variations in their sex traits, such as those with ovotestes who may produce both sperm and ova, or no gonads who produce neither. Like all EOs, the impact on intersex people will depend on how government agencies choose to interpret and enforce it.

What are we seeing right now? The most immediate impact has been difficulties for folks getting or renewing passports—we will continue to provide updates as this develops. You can read more in our Official Statement.

Restrictions on gender-affirming care:

This order seeks to prohibit access to healthcare for many transgender young people (including adults aged 18). The order likely impacts healthcare for people with variations in their sex traits. Intersex people also seeking gender-affirming care, or perceived to be, may find their healthcare restricted. Many intersex people also depend on providers who offer trans care such as endocrinologists due to their knowledge of hormones. When consensual care is banned, all young people risk losing access to necessary healthcare.

What are we seeing right now? While there is currently no enforcement, many hospitals are pre-emptively complying with the order and ending hormonal care for adolescents, such as puberty blockers. We collaborated on an explainer with LGBTQI and legal organizations on the EO to provide more information.

Restricting students from playing school sports:

This order is an attack on transgender girls in school sports, but also an attack on all girls and women. Enforcing strict “sex”-based sports policies will likely encourage harassment, scrutiny of women’s and girls’ bodies, and invasive exams. The order incorporates the administration’s previous redefinition of “male” and “female,” which leaves out some intersex people. It is unclear how this order will be enforced, but it’s possible some intersex students may be targeted due to visible differences, being out as intersex, or due to other forms of enforcement.

What are we seeing right now? While enforcement has not yet begun, any order targeting Title IX funding could put schools that do not comply at risk of losing financial support. You can learn more in our statement on Instagram or Facebook.

None of the EOs mention intersex people specifically—they are systematically scrubbing mentions of intersex people from government websites. You may notice the recent ground-breaking report on intersex health from the Department of Health and Human Services has been deleted—you can still access the full report on our site.

https://interaction.org.au/

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Macca and Ben talk to Euan Ritchie, Prof Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, Deakin Uni. Nature Positive Reforms – Environment will be a key issue at next Election

https://euanritchie.org/2025/02/03/the-conversation-labors-dumping-of-australias-new-nature-laws-means-the-environment-is-shaping-as-a-key-2025-election-issue/

https://theconversation.com/labors-dumping-of-australias-new-nature-laws-means-the-environment-is-shaping-as-a-key-2025-election-issue-248872

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shelved the proposed reforms to Australia’s 25-year-old environment laws, citing a lack of parliamentary support for the changes.

The decision breaks Labor’s 2022 election commitment to overhaul the protections. The Albanese government is now the latest in a string of governments that have tried and failed to reform the law known formally as the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

This is despite two major independent reviews calling for wholesale change.

Labor’s capitulation does not, however, change the facts. Australia’s natural environment is deteriorating rapidly. Laws are urgently needed to protect our nation’s valuable natural assets.

Establishing effective laws is an investment that will benefit Australia’s biodiversity, economy, cultural values, health and wellbeing. Nature is now a key 2025 election issue.

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Ben and Macca talk to Peter Khalil, Federal Labor MP Wills-Federal Politics Update; racism and anti-semitism in Australia.

The post Saturday, 15th, February 2025: Peter Khalil, Federal Labor MP Wills-Federal Politics Update; Racism and Anti-semitism in Australia.  appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Ben talk to Dr Yee-Fui Ng Associate Professor, Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Monash University, about National Truth in Advertising Laws are needed in Australia.

The highly pertinent case of a little-known independent candidate in the Victorian seat of Wannon has exposed a gaping hole in Australia’s electoral laws, which allow for misleading political advertisements in the lead-up to an election campaign. It’s all entirely legal and is already being exploited to try to shape the outcome of the coming federal election.

Conservative activist group Advance Australia has widely distributed digitally altered flyers attacking independent Alex Dyson, who is challenging senior frontbencher Dan Tehan.

It’s part of a campaign to damage Dyson’s electoral prospects after he helped slash the Liberal Party’s margin in the seat at the last election to less than 4%.

The material depicts Dyson ripping open his shirt in a “Superman” pose, to reveal a t-shirt bearing the official Greens party logo.

https://theconversation.com/misleading-and-false-election-ads-are-legal-in-australia-we-need-national-truth-in-political-advertising-laws-249279

Yee-Fui is an Associate Professor and the Director (Higher Degree by Research) at Monash University.

Yee-Fui’s research centres on strengthening political institutions and enhancing executive accountability. Her work has focussed on the regulation and accountability of actors and institutions in the shadows of government, such as ministerial advisers, lobby groups and government corporations, utilising empirical, doctrinal and comparative methodologies.

Yee-Fui is the author of Combatting the Code: Regulating Automated Government Decision-Making in Comparative Context (Cambridge University Press, forthcoming 2025), The Rise of Political Advisors in the Westminster System (Routledge, 2018) and Ministerial Advisers in Australia: The Modern Legal Context (Federation Press, 2016), which was a finalist of the Holt Prize. Dr Ng also co-authored Douglas and Jones’s Administrative Law (Federation Press, 9th ed, 2024). She has publications in leading Australian and international books and journals, including the Law Quarterly Review, Public Law, Federal Law Review, Melbourne University Law Review, UNSW Law Journal, The Oxford Handbook of the Australian Constitution, and The Oxford Handbook of Political Executives.

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Ben and Macca talk to Simon Ruth, CEO Thorn Harbour Health. They discuss Thorne Habour Heatth’s Midsumma–what they have planned for ChillOut Festival and the most recent update on MPox as well as what Trump’s re-election has meant for HIV/AIDs research and funding.

The post Saturday, 15th, February 2025: Simon Ruth, CEO Thorne Harbour Health, Midsumma, ChillOut Festival, HIV/AIDs and MPOX Update. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Ben and Macca talk to Misha Ketchell, Editor The Conversation, Truth in Politics and Federal Election Update.

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Macca is joined by former Joyster Ben Wilson, as they discuss the news, reviews and views of the week that was.

The post Saturday, 15th, February 2025: Weekly Wrap Up with Macca and Ben Wilson appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Paul and Macca talk to Jackie Turner-Director-Trans Justice Project-TRANS DAY OF ACTION!

As anti-trans rhetoric and attacks reach a fever pitch in the US, young people, their families, and communities will rally across Australia in support of trans youth.

The actions are in response to QLD Health Minister Tim Nicholls announcing a pause on prescribing puberty blockers and hormone therapy to new public health patients under the age of 18.

Jackie Turner, Director of the Trans Justice Project (she/her) said, “This cruel ban is the first of its kind in Australia, and it must be reversed immediately. No one wants to see the hateful US-style scapegoating of communities happening here.”

“Governments cannot be allowed to ban vital, evidence-based healthcare solely on the basis of their political beliefs.”

“Communities nationwide, from Busselton and Wagga Wagga to Shepparton and Broome, are rallying today to show trans young people in Queensland that they are not alone.”

The Minister’s decision will halt evidence-based healthcare for 491 young people and their families – many who have been on the waiting list for months, and even years.

Hannah, A Brisbane mum whose daughter’s care has been impacted said, “This has been incredibly stressful for our family. My 15 year old has been on puberty blockers for four years and was just days away from going on HRT. Now that can’t happen. Like all teenagers, she just wants to look like her friends at school and express who she really is.”

“The Minister’s decision puts our young people’s lives at risk. As a parent I can’t stand by and watch that happen. The Queensland government must reinstate care and increase funding for the Queensland Children’s Gender Service.”

Peak medical bodies including the The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Australian Medical Association Queensland, and senior members of the The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners have condemned the ban and warned that denying vital medical care to trans youth could have devastating consequences.

Rally attendees will be invited to donate to support the 491 young people who have been kicked off the waiting list in Queensland to seek access through the private system instead.

The day is organised by the Trans Justice Project, a trans-led organisation working to build a future where all trans and gender-diverse people are safe, celebrated, and free.

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Macca and Paul talk to

“Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has doubled down on his commitment to sack thousands of public servants if he’s elected prime minister.

Dutton has again highlighted the “wasteful” 36,000 increase in public service jobs under Labor, which he says has made the Australian Public service “bloated and inefficient”.

While there is considerable political hyperbole and Trumpian allusions in Dutton’s statements, there are areas where legitimate savings could be made by whoever wins the coming election. That includes a second-term Albanese government, which would need to find efficiencies to offset promised wage increases”

https://theconversation.com/peter-dutton-is-promising-to-slash-the-public-service-voters-wont-know-how-many-jobs-are-lost-until-after-the-election-248897

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Paul and Macca talk to  Mark Andrejevic Prof School of Media, Film, and Journalism, Monash University, Monash University study suggests those who rely more on newspapers and public broadcasters more likely to score highly on ‘civic values’.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/jan/29/social-media-news-consumption-civic-values-climate-change-attitudes-monash-universtiy-study

The post Saturday 8th February, 2025: Commercial Media and “Climate Crisis’ Conspiracy Theory’ . Mark Andrejevic Prof School of Media, Film, and Journalism, Monash University appeared first on Saturday Magazine.