Latest news with #ACT
ABC News
4 hours ago
- General
- ABC News
Social clubs helping young Canberrans form friendships in the transient city
When masters student Kinneret Pezarkar moved to Canberra from a city more than 40 times its size, she faced an overwhelming problem she never expected. The 24-year-old, in the prime of her life, remembers sitting on a couch in her room on weekends wondering what everyone else was doing with their time. She said finding friends was a daunting challenge in the first few months. "It can feel a little bit embarrassing at the start, like, 'Oh, do you want to hang out with me?' "Sometimes there would be days where I didn't have anything planned for the weekend." And moving to a place where many other young adults have also moved too did not guarantee making friends would be easy. Despite being surrounded by other students who had left their support networks behind, Ms Pezarkar believes making friends is challenging in Canberra. In Australia, almost one in three people experience moderate levels of loneliness, according to a 2023 report by Ending Loneliness Together. ACT residents report the highest rate, equating to 40 per cent of residents. Ms Pezarkar noticed people came and went from Canberra. "I usually go in expecting to be the best of friends with everybody, and I think it's a high expectation to set," Ms Pezarkar said. "It can feel kind of temporary, so either you give too much or you give too [little]. "They might leave, so why do I waste so much time?" But after several months calculating time zone differences to keep phoning friends in Mumbai, and being gently encouraged to overcome anxiety barriers, Ms Pezarkar decided to step out and try again, to meet new people. "You realise that you need to break out of whatever shell you're in — these labels of introvert, extravert," she said. She asked people in her class if they wanted to start a book club — and they did. She now has a group of friends who have all also moved to Canberra from Asian countries. Ms Pezarkar is not alone in her experience of loneliness. What has been labelled the "loneliness epidemic" has led many craving friendship to form new social groups around the country. The Canberra Girls Club was started in 2025 by women who were craving a way to find new friends. The group, which hosts free exercise sessions and group walks, quickly grew in popularity on social media. Ishu Kamboj, who joined the group in June, acknowledges friendships take time. In the five years she's lived in the capital, she is yet to find a circle of close friends — something she attributes towards the city's transient population of workers who leave after several years. "I've seen this trend of people moving away from Canberra, they move out of Canberra very quickly," Ms Kamboj said. "I made friends and they moved away. "I was like, 'What do I do?' I'm just with my loneliness sitting in my house, what do I do?" The girls' group grew from 20 people to an average of 80 attendees within its first three meet-ups — many in the same boat as Ms Kamboj. Canberra-based counsellor Jon Nielsen said many of his clients regularly experienced loneliness, even if they didn't realise it. "They don't always describe it as loneliness, sometimes it will just be a sense that something is not quite right, I'm not feeling good, I'm at a loose end," Mr Nielsen said. "It can lead people into depression … and it can be quite debilitating." Mr Nielsen said the usual pathways of making friends sometimes do not work when people move to a different city. Mr Nielsen said people may move with a partner and find themselves without an outlet for socialisation outside of their relationship. Though many people experience moderate loneliness, some experience what experts call "persistent loneliness" — where their social connection needs are not met for an extended period of time. In young people, the experience is prevalent in two in five people — above the national average of one in four, according to Ending Loneliness Together. The chair of Ending Loneliness Together, Michelle Lim, said there was a negative stigma around the topic of loneliness that prevented people reaching out for help. "The way we live and the way we function in a society and in this culture means we are not actually verbalising a need to get help or support early on," she said. She considers loneliness a key public health issue. "We need to more generally ask for help in a way that is respectful and meaningful," Dr Lim said. "We really need to start putting loneliness on the agenda."
ABC News
a day ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare refers concerns about Australian National University to regulator
The federal education minister has referred concerns about the Australian National University in Canberra to the country's tertiary education regulator. Independent ACT senator David Pocock wrote to the minister, Jason Clare, on June 16 to raise concerns about governance and financial management at the ANU, which is pursuing a controversial restructure to save $250 million by 2026. There has been widespread staff and community outcry over the university's ongoing plans to slash hundreds of jobs, after it revealed a cumulative deficit of around $600 million. Senator Pocock's letter, which also includes other unspecified serious allegations, has now been referred to the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA), which regulates higher education. Mr Clare said he had also written to ANU Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell on June 6 after hearing of "significant concerns" from his ACT Labor colleagues and the broader community about the university. "I wrote to ANU seeking assurances that they are managing these issues appropriately," Mr Clare said in a statement. Federal Member for Canberra Alicia Payne said she welcomed the minister's intervention. "Over many months I have been meeting with ANU staff and community and have become increasingly concerned about the situation there," Ms Payne said on social media. More than 400 people attended a town hall address at the ANU campus and online on Tuesday night hosted by Senator Pocock, who said he had no confidence in the ANU's leadership. "You're trashing an amazing institution," Senator Pocock said in a response to crowd questions about ANU executives. "It's probably one of the things people have stopped me in the street to talk about the most over the last few months. "People who have put their lives into the ANU, love it as an institution, recognise how important it is to our nation and have very, very serious, and I think valid, concerns about what is happening here." The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) said the minister's referral to TEQSA was a significant escalation in oversight of ANU's process. "Problems have been mounting at ANU, so we're looking at wage theft, conflicts of interest, job cuts, financial mismanagement and more going on at the ANU over a period of time. "Those problems have mounted to such a significant extent in our national university that the education minister, who is understandably wary about ministerial intervention, has decided that he could no longer look away." The ANU is a Commonwealth authority, which means it is subject to public governance and public interest disclosure responsibilities, and is the only university over which the federal minister has jurisdiction. Renew ANU, which has spearheaded the university's financial overhaul since October 2024, said change plans had so far saved the university $12.5 million. In a statement, TEQSA confirmed it was considering Minister Clare's referral. "TEQSA gives consideration to all concerns received, including those from the minister, and where warranted, outcomes can include undertaking regulatory processes to assure provider compliance." "As this is ongoing, it is not appropriate for TEQSA to comment further until these processes are concluded." The ANU has been contacted for comment.
ABC News
a day ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Leanne Castley says no formal staff complaints raised as Peter Cain resigns from Canberra Liberals shadow cabinet
ACT Opposition Leader Leanne Castley says MLA Peter Cain's resignation from her shadow cabinet was unexpected and that no formal complaints have been lodged by staff in her team. Mr Cain resigned from the frontbench yesterday, citing concerns about the direction of the leadership team and decision-making processes. "This decision follows ongoing concerns regarding the direction of the current leadership team and the processes through which key decisions have been made," he said. In the statement, Mr Cain implied there were workplace culture problems within the party. "I also have a duty of care to my hardworking staff, who deserve to work in a safe, supportive, and respectful environment," the statement said. Ms Castley, however, told ABC Canberra this morning she is disappointed Mr Cain did not come to her earlier with his concerns. When asked what she had known about Mr Cain's reasons for stepping down, Ms Castley said: "I know as much as you do". She said he spoke to her in her office on Thursday morning before issuing his statement. "So that's what happened and I respect his choice and decision. "We'd had no conversation [about his concerns previously]." She said when she took over the leadership in the wake of the 2024 ACT election, replacing Elizabeth Lee, she had "made a commitment to always have an open door". "I don't stand for gossip and I'm really keen to chat with anyone who has a problem," she said. "So always, and will remain so, my door is open for Peter any time he wants to come and have a chat with me and, yeah, that won't change." Ms Castley said she believed "communication is key". "There are definite changes … as I say, I have a completely open door policy in the assembly … but we can't do the same thing we've always done and expect a different result," she said. "So, we're getting some great wins in the chamber and I know that the team are really excited by that. Ms Castley was adamant she had a cohesive team, despite Mr Cain's move to the backbench. "Our goal is to win government in 2028. "Whether everyone is wanting to take a portfolio at this time, or wanting to take a bit of time to pause and reflect, that's OK as well." Asked about information from Liberal sources who had revealed the situation had been developing and that Mr Cain had voiced concerns previously, Ms Castley said she had not been privy to that. She said he had not raised concerns with her "about decisions the leadership team are making". She added that when she asked Mr Cain why he was resigning, he said: "We'll discuss that at another time". Ms Castley also agreed with Mr Cain's comments about a "duty of care" for staff and said no formal complaints had been lodged within their team. "We have an amazing HR team in the assembly, any question you have for them, they're always open and very good at that two-way communication as well, so I would encourage all of our staff to make sure they're taking care of themself," she said. "It's a tough job when your boss is constantly getting slammed for one thing or another." Asked if any informal complaints had been made, she said: "I think every office is having informal discussions about the way staff are being treated". Yesterday, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr described Mr Cain's resignation from the shadow cabinet as a "reflection of deep divisions within the Canberra Liberals on key policy issues". "His comments regarding the safety of his staff are particularly concerning," Mr Barr said in a statement. "One thing is clear: the Canberra Liberals remain deeply conservative, increasingly out of touch, and more divided than ever." But today Ms Castley said she was confident she was the right person to lead the Canberra Liberals. "Absolutely, I think we're stronger than we have been," she stated. "Knowing that we're coming into budget week strong, ready for questions, ready to understand what this budget is about."
ABC News
a day ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Sussan Ley will have to answer some tough questions next week
On Wednesday, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley will front the National Press Club. So why is that a big deal? For one thing, her predecessor Peter Dutton never appeared there as opposition leader. For another, it's a formidable forum for a new leader. It could all go badly wrong, but she's right to make the early appearance. It sends a message she is not risk-averse. Ms Ley wants to establish a better relationship with the Canberra Press Gallery than Mr Dutton had. He saw the gallery journalists as part of the despised "Canberra bubble" and bypassed them when he could. That didn't serve him well — not least because he wasn't toughened up for when he had to face daily news conferences (with many Canberra reporters) on the election trail. Ms Ley's office has set up a WhatsApp group for gallery journalists, alerting them to who's appearing in the media, and also dispatching short responses to things said by the government (such as links to ministers' former statements). This matches the WhatsApp group for the gallery run by the Prime Minister's Office. One of Ms Ley's press secretaries, Liam Jones, has also regularly been doing the rounds in the media corridors of Parliament House, something that very rarely happened with Dutton's media staff. To the extent anyone is paying attention, Ms Ley has made a better start than many, including some Liberals, had expected. She came out of the tiff with the Nationals well, despite having to give ground on their policy demands. Her frontbench reshuffle had flaws but wasn't terrible. She's struck a reasonable, rather than shrill, tone in her comments on issues, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's failure thus far to get a meeting with US President Donald Trump. Her next significant test will be how she handles at the Press Club questions she and her party are confronting. So here are a few for her. One (the most fundamental): How is she going to thread the needle between the two sides of the Liberal Party? Howard's old "broad church" answer no longer holds. The church is fractured. In an era of identity politics, the Liberals have a massive identity crisis. The party's conservatives are hardline, have hold of the party's (narrow) base, and will undermine Ms Ley if they can. Its moderates will struggle to shape its key policies in a way that will appeal to small-l liberal voters in urban seats. Two: How and when will she deal with the future of the Coalition's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050? She has put all policies on the table (but made exceptions for several Nationals' core policies). There is a strong case for her staking out her own position on net zero, and getting the policy settled sooner rather than later. With younger voters having eschewed the Liberals, Ms Ley told The Daily Aus podcast this week, "I want young people to know first and foremost that I want to listen to them and meet them where they are". One place they are is in support of net zero by 2050. If the Liberals deserted that, they'd be making the challenge of attracting more youth votes a herculean one. For the opposition. net zero is likely the climate debate of this term — and such debates are at best difficult and at worst lethal for Liberal leaders. Three: Won't it be near impossible for the Liberals to get a respectable proportion of women in its House of Representatives team without quotas? Over the years, Ms Ley has been equivocal on the issue. She told The Daily Aus: "Each of our [Liberal state] divisions is responsible for its own world, if you like, when it comes to [candidate] selections." This is unlikely to cut it. She needs to have a view, and a strategy. Targets haven't worked. Four: Ms Ley says she wants to run a constructive opposition, so how constructive will it be in the tax debate Treasurer Jim Chalmers launched this week? Ms Ley might have a chat with John Howard about the 1980s, when the Liberals had internal arguments about whether to support or oppose some of the Hawke government's reform measures. Obviously, no total buy-in should be expected but to oppose reforms for the sake of it would discredit a party trying to sell its economic credentials. More generally, how constructive or obstructive will the opposition be in the Senate? This raises matters of principle, not just political opportunism. In the new Senate the government will have to negotiate on legislation with either the opposition or the Greens. If the opposition constantly forces Labor into the arms of the Greens, that could produce legislation that (from the Liberals' point of view) is worse than if the Liberals were Labor's partner. How does that sit with them philosophically? Five: Finally, how active will Ms Ley be in trying to drive improvements in the appalling Liberal state organisations, especially in NSW (her home state) and Victoria? The Liberals' federal executive extended federal intervention in the NSW division this week, with a new oversight committee, headed by one-time premier Nick Greiner. But the announcement spurred immediate backbiting, with conservatives seeing it advantaging the moderates. Ley is well across the NSW factions: her numbers man is Alex Hawke — whom she elevated to the shadow cabinet — from Scott Morrison's old centre right faction, and she has a staffer from that faction in a senior position in her office. The faction has also protected her preselection in the past. In Victoria, the factional infighting has been beyond parody, with former leader John Pesutto scratching around for funds to avoid bankruptcy after losing a defamation case brought by colleague Moira Deeming. Some Liberals think the state party could even lose what should be the unlosable state election next year. That's just the start of the questions for Ms Ley. Meanwhile, the party this week has set up an inquiry into the election disaster, to be conducted by former federal minister Nick Minchin and former NSW minister Pru Goward. Identifying what went wrong won't be hard for them — mostly, it was blindingly obvious. Recommending solutions that the party can and will implement — that will be the difficult bit. Michelle Grattan is a professorial fellow at the University of Canberra and chief political correspondent at The Conversation, where this article first appeared.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Canberra Liberals on Peter Cain's resignation from shadow cabinet
Canberra Liberals MLA Peter Cain's resignation from shadow cabinet came as a surprise to other party frontbenchers.
