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When is it OK to cut off your parents and go 'no contact'?

When is it OK to cut off your parents and go 'no contact'?

Have you ever considered cutting a family member off? It's called going "no contact" and social media is filled with stories from people who've done just that. But how do you know you're making the right choice? And can fractured relationships be saved?
Guest: Bec Cushway, producer on Radio National's God Forbid program.
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If you want to find out more about what it means to go 'no contact' or 'low contact' with family, read this ABC article, or listen to the God Forbid episode exploring the ethics of it all.
If you're into complicated family dynamics, you might like our episode on why people are starting a family with sperm from a Facebook group.
If you liked this episode, let us know at quick.smart@abc.net.au
Family and domestic violence support services:
1800 RESPECT national helpline: 1800 737 732
Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491
Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114
Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277

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ACF says satellite evidence shows mass native habitat destruction by farmers
ACF says satellite evidence shows mass native habitat destruction by farmers

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ACF says satellite evidence shows mass native habitat destruction by farmers

Investigations are under way into a report by a leading conservation group that farmers have illegally cleared thousands of hectares of native bushland across Australia in a few years. The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) used satellite images and on-the-ground volunteers to document what it says are 90,000 hectares, or 900 square kilometres, of lost bush on 176 properties in NSW, QLD, WA and NT. It says all the sites contained threatened species habitat and the land cleared between 2020 and 2025 equalled an area the size of about 320 Sydney CBDs. ACF business and nature lead, Nathaniel Pelle, said beef production was the primary culprit. "Among these 90,000 hectares that we've identified, the majority of it is identifiable as cattle properties," he said. "It's all pretty mature bush that is being cleared here … some of it might be 20-year-old regrowth and that's still valuable habitat for species." Retired IT professional Ruth Hughes took part in the project as a citizen scientist comparing before-and-after satellite images. "ACF has set it up and we get these shots of high-value nature areas," Ms Hughes said. Land clearing likely to impact threatened species must receive federal approval through the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act). ACF claimed none of the land clearing it documented had EPBC approval. Mr Pelle said federal and state governments had to do more to protect Australia from further deforestation. "Unfortunately, federal and state authorities are not properly monitoring or protecting habitat across the country," he said. "It is extremely important that we don't allow environmental degradation to continue. The ACF said the majority of the land clearing was in NSW and Queensland. State and territory governments are the main bodies responsible for enforcing land management and policing land clearing. The NSW government confirmed it received material from the ACF and has launched an investigation. "The department has received and is investigating allegations referred by the ACF," said a Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water spokesperson. "We are unable to comment on cases currently under investigation, as it could impact future legal processes." Queensland's Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing, and Regional and Rural Development said it investigated all land clearing allegations, "including from ACF". The National Farmers Federation (NFF) hit back at the report. President David Jochinke said the report was full of holes, anti-agriculture and gave no credence to the hard work farmers undertook to preserve biodiversity and habitats. "You tell me how much of that 90,000 hectares is woody weed management … how much of that 90,000 hectares were legitimately cleared with offsets?" Mr Jochinke told the NSW Country Hour. "This so-called report is just an attack on agriculture, without even any context or knowledge of both what land stewardship is and how agriculture looks after over half of Australia's natural environment. Mr Jochinke said the NFF opposed illegal land clearing "but we know the majority of farmers do the right thing … and actually offset a lot of their land management". He said the majority of farmers worked with Landcare and other organisations to plant trees and regenerate farmland. "We understand we've got to look after nature because it absolutely helps our production systems," he said.

Paramedic who rescued farmer trapped in grain silo receives highest honour
Paramedic who rescued farmer trapped in grain silo receives highest honour

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Paramedic who rescued farmer trapped in grain silo receives highest honour

Vaughan Mason will never forget the triple-0 call that led him to be standing in a silo, frantically scooping grain by hand and using a piece of poly pipe as a makeshift breathing tube to keep a trapped farmer alive. He was the lone paramedic dispatched to a property on the outskirts of Baralaba in central Queensland after a man became trapped in a grain silo in February 2023. Mr Mason was part of a small group of rescuers desperately trying to save grain grower John Lawson. Mr Lawson had stepped into the silo to help release the grain, not realising there was a void underneath. He was quickly buried above his neck. "I could imagine if you're drowning in water, it'd be much the same," Mr Lawson recalled. "A lot of things go through your mind, and you think to yourself, 'Hey, Jesus, this might be it.'" For the first time since the accident, Mr Lawson has reunited with the paramedic who helped save his life. It was an emotional moment for the pair as they stood on the property where it happened, reflecting on how close it came to tragedy. "It's a very, very humbling moment, and it just cements [the fact that] I don't want to think that what we do is in vain." Mr Mason, who is the Baralaba officer in charge, recently received an Australian Service Medal at Government House in Brisbane. The Ambulance Service Medal is the highest recognition a paramedic can receive. The award recognised his service to the Baralaba community, including the grain silo rescue. Gwen Tennent works as a nurse at the Baralaba Multipurpose Health Service. In the small town of about 300 people, she wears a few hats — she is also the president of the Local Ambulance Committee and a volunteer emergency driver. She works closely with Mr Mason and said his presence had become a reassuring constant in the community. "He's very important here, people, they just take to him. I don't think it'd be the same [here] if they had a different officer in charge," Ms Tennent said. "The people really like Vaughan here." She said Mr Mason often went above and beyond the normal call of duty. "He does so much that we don't see … he's always teaching when he's on his days off, and he doesn't know how to say no," she said. Mr Mason runs regular community education sessions on the banks of the Baralaba River and is passionate about building community resilience. "There's an older couple next door, he goes in there just to see if they're OK," Ms Tennent said. "They're in their 90s and he'll try and fix whatever they need — if they need a meal, he'll go and get it for them." More than five years ago, he taught a Victorian grey nomad CPR and how to use a defibrillator when he was visiting the town. When the man returned home, more than 1,900 kilometres away, he used that training to save a woman's life at a bingo event. Mr Mason said the community's response to his award was heartwarming. Mr Lawson, who is a lifelong volunteer in Baralaba's ambulance committee, said Mr Mason was an asset to the town. "The training that he does with people is fantastic, the communications that he's got with the public is great," he said. "I could rattle on all day, but no, he's a good bloke." Watch ABC TV's Landline at 12:30pm AEST on Sunday or stream anytime on ABC iview.

Foster mum Roylene Robinson now helps those in need in cost-of-living crisis
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  • ABC News

Foster mum Roylene Robinson now helps those in need in cost-of-living crisis

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