West Gippsland Week

Several ideas have been proposed to stop our wildlife being slaughtered on our roads, but few have been properly tested. One proper study has tested the effectiveness of "virtual fencing" with negative results. It is explained and some alternatives are discussed.

"Legacy" media is under pressure around the world, and very much so in rural areas where low populations mean that small shifts in audiences can have a major impact.

The Indigenous Business Authority works to encourage and develop indigenous business as an important way to improve the economic position of the community.

Homelessness is a rising problem across our community, often seen as a city issue but increasing seen in rural areas. here a local service discusses the issue in the context of a "sleepout" being organised to highlight the issue.

Many jurisdictions have moved to ban or otherwise reduce the short term holiday rental market in the hope that it will improve the availability of long term housing. The actual evidence does not support the idea.

A regular annoyance for shoppers is the much used option of adding a surcharge at the till when we use a card. The Reserve Bank of Australia has proposed that this practice be banned, but small business fears it will hurt them without putting pressure on the banks.

It is suggested that because illegal tobacco sales have increased resulting in less tax income, we should lower those taxes. The Australian Medical Association argues that we shouldn't give up on one of the most effective means to reduce smoking.

In 2025 an international conference was called to negotiate a treaty to limit plastic pollution, which is growing at a terrible rate around the world, and appearing in the most remote places. It failed. This episode discusses what happens with a participant from the Australian Beverage Council.

the RSPCA has reported an increase in pet cruelty reports and surrenders of animals, increasing their workload in a worrying way.

Some time after the revelations of the Royal Commission into disability, recommendations are still not producing results.