Latest news with #Australian-first
The Age
7 days ago
- The Age
Rise of AI risks undermining HSC fairness
Lucy Carroll reports in today's Sun-Herald that the number of students caught cheating in the HSC has doubled in the past five years, a trend some in the sector have attributed to rising instances of teenagers using generative AI in their assessments. With all we know about the pervasiveness of artificial intelligence and its increasing sophistication, the figure is likely to be an underestimate. Indeed, Australian Tutoring Association president Mohan Dhall told Carroll that malpractice as a result of AI was likely going 'vastly undetected'. Over the past two years, the university sector has grappled with how to manage the use of AI in assessments. After initially reacting with outright bans, the institutions – increasingly reliant on online learning as a cost-saving teaching model – have changed their tune, allowing AI to be used in at least some assessments. At present, the University of Sydney is phasing in a policy that allows students to use AI in some assessments – a radical reversal of its previous ban on the technology. In the coming semester, students will be able to use AI in all take-home assessments, and co-ordinators cannot ban its use. Loading At the University of NSW, teachers set a level of acceptable AI use for each assessment. The university signed an Australian-first deal last year with ChatGPT to roll out a special version of the technology on campus. The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) believes it is the responsibility of individual schools and school sectors to manage policies for the use of AI in their establishments. But, in the case of the high-pressure, statewide HSC, this approach surely cannot hold. If scenes outside selective schools test centres when some computers malfunctioned last month are anything to go by, any sense of unfairness across the system will not be tolerated: too much rides on the marks received by students in the NSW school system, be it a place at a top-performing selective school, or admission into a dream university course. As Carroll reports today, a paper published last month by Catholic Schools NSW said HSC take-home assessments should decrease in importance for a student's overall grade until 'the AI threat to assessment integrity can be satisfactorily contained'.
Sydney Morning Herald
7 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Rise of AI risks undermining HSC fairness
Lucy Carroll reports in today's Sun-Herald that the number of students caught cheating in the HSC has doubled in the past five years, a trend some in the sector have attributed to rising instances of teenagers using generative AI in their assessments. With all we know about the pervasiveness of artificial intelligence and its increasing sophistication, the figure is likely to be an underestimate. Indeed, Australian Tutoring Association president Mohan Dhall told Carroll that malpractice as a result of AI was likely going 'vastly undetected'. Over the past two years, the university sector has grappled with how to manage the use of AI in assessments. After initially reacting with outright bans, the institutions – increasingly reliant on online learning as a cost-saving teaching model – have changed their tune, allowing AI to be used in at least some assessments. At present, the University of Sydney is phasing in a policy that allows students to use AI in some assessments – a radical reversal of its previous ban on the technology. In the coming semester, students will be able to use AI in all take-home assessments, and co-ordinators cannot ban its use. Loading At the University of NSW, teachers set a level of acceptable AI use for each assessment. The university signed an Australian-first deal last year with ChatGPT to roll out a special version of the technology on campus. The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) believes it is the responsibility of individual schools and school sectors to manage policies for the use of AI in their establishments. But, in the case of the high-pressure, statewide HSC, this approach surely cannot hold. If scenes outside selective schools test centres when some computers malfunctioned last month are anything to go by, any sense of unfairness across the system will not be tolerated: too much rides on the marks received by students in the NSW school system, be it a place at a top-performing selective school, or admission into a dream university course. As Carroll reports today, a paper published last month by Catholic Schools NSW said HSC take-home assessments should decrease in importance for a student's overall grade until 'the AI threat to assessment integrity can be satisfactorily contained'.
Perth Now
08-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Massive update on Amazon product
Amazon has removed the sale of all machetes from its online Australian marketplace after a landmark ban in Victoria. The Victorian government announced a statewide ban on the sale of machetes following a violent brawl at a Northland shopping centre. The Australian-first ban will come into effect from September 1, and comes amid mounting calls for the Labor government to crackdown on youth crime. Despite the ban, Amazon Australia was reportedly still selling the deadly weapon earlier this month; in a statement this week, the retailer said that had come to and end. A spokesperson for the retail giant confirmed machetes were no longer for sale across all of Amazon Australia, not just in Victoria, following the state government's decision. Google searches for machetes on Amazon continued to retrieve results on Sunday, but the link took buyers to a web page stating the address was 'not functioning'. An interim total ban on the sale of machetes was introduced on May 28, with failure to comply with the ban when it comes in affect being a criminal offence. The interim order means those who may have a legitimate and legal reason to have a machete, namely farmers, will be locked out of any purchases. After September 1, retailers will be able to apply for an exemption to sell machetes for legitimate use, and will be listed on a police register. The ban comes after four people were charged over a brawl at Northland shopping centre. Credit: X A three-month amnesty will also come into affect from September 1, allowing anyone already possessing a machete to hand them in. The ban is the first of its kind in Australia, and comes after the brawl at Northland shopping centre, which sparked a lockdown. Four males have since been charged over the alleged rival gang fight. They remain before the courts.
West Australian
07-06-2025
- West Australian
Amazon Australia removes machetes after landmark Victoria ban
Amazon has removed the sale of all machetes from its online Australian marketplace after a landmark ban in Victoria. The Victorian government announced a statewide ban on the sale of machetes following a violent brawl at a Northland shopping centre. The Australian-first ban will come into effect from September 1, and comes amid mounting calls for the Labor government to crackdown on youth crime. Despite the ban, Amazon Australia was reportedly still selling the deadly weapon earlier this month; in a statement this week, the retailer said that had come to and end. A spokesperson for the retail giant confirmed machetes were no longer for sale across all of Amazon Australia, not just in Victoria, following the state government's decision. Google searches for machetes on Amazon continued to retrieve results on Sunday, but the link took buyers to a web page stating the address was 'not functioning'. An interim total ban on the sale of machetes was introduced on May 28, with failure to comply with the ban when it comes in affect being a criminal offence. The interim order means those who may have a legitimate and legal reason to have a machete, namely farmers, will be locked out of any purchases. After September 1, retailers will be able to apply for an exemption to sell machetes for legitimate use, and will be listed on a police register. A three-month amnesty will also come into affect from September 1, allowing anyone already possessing a machete to hand them in. The ban is the first of its kind in Australia, and comes after the brawl at Northland shopping centre, which sparked a lockdown. Four males have since been charged over the alleged rival gang fight. They remain before the courts.
The Advertiser
05-06-2025
- Health
- The Advertiser
Knockout blow for contentious bare-knuckle boxing event
A bare-knuckle boxing event described as a "blood sport" has been canned following backlash from political leaders and health authorities. In a decision handed down on Thursday, Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission blocked the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's application to hold an event at Perth's RAC Arena in July. "The board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria," a spokesperson said. Tickets to the Australian-first event - including $6000 'Notorious Access' packages featuring a meet and greet with celebrity fighter Conor McGregor - had already been on sale before it was rejected by the commission's board. The event's promotion had sparked a political brawl, with medical professionals raising serious concerns about the health and safety of fighters and the message the event sent to the community. The downsides of the sport were "so obvious they barely needed repeating", Australian Medical Association WA branch president Michael Page said in a statement before the commission's decision. "We are in the grip of a domestic violence crisis and an epidemic of drug- and alcohol-fuelled street violence," Dr Page said. "Turning the act of bare-knuckle fighting into a 'sport' sets an incredibly bad example for children and adults alike. "The physical health of the fighters involved is also of concern." Dr Page described the event as "blood sport", while state opposition spokesperson Peter Rundle labelled it "state-sanctioned violence". WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti told reporters Perth had hosted dozens of combat sports events, with fans having flocked to UFC mixed martial arts bouts. "It's very hard to differentiate this type of event, compared to mixed martial arts and UFC," she said prior to the decision. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had expressed concern about the event. "I think one of the things that might be relevant here is the concern that's there about concussion in general," he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday. "It's not really my responsibility as PM, but I do think that we need to be really cognisant about health advice when it comes to these issues because they are really prevalent." In 2021, fighter Justin Thornton reportedly died weeks after he suffered an injury following a knockout at a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in the United States. The Perth event had been scheduled to take place at RAC Arena on July 19. A bare-knuckle boxing event described as a "blood sport" has been canned following backlash from political leaders and health authorities. In a decision handed down on Thursday, Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission blocked the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's application to hold an event at Perth's RAC Arena in July. "The board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria," a spokesperson said. Tickets to the Australian-first event - including $6000 'Notorious Access' packages featuring a meet and greet with celebrity fighter Conor McGregor - had already been on sale before it was rejected by the commission's board. The event's promotion had sparked a political brawl, with medical professionals raising serious concerns about the health and safety of fighters and the message the event sent to the community. The downsides of the sport were "so obvious they barely needed repeating", Australian Medical Association WA branch president Michael Page said in a statement before the commission's decision. "We are in the grip of a domestic violence crisis and an epidemic of drug- and alcohol-fuelled street violence," Dr Page said. "Turning the act of bare-knuckle fighting into a 'sport' sets an incredibly bad example for children and adults alike. "The physical health of the fighters involved is also of concern." Dr Page described the event as "blood sport", while state opposition spokesperson Peter Rundle labelled it "state-sanctioned violence". WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti told reporters Perth had hosted dozens of combat sports events, with fans having flocked to UFC mixed martial arts bouts. "It's very hard to differentiate this type of event, compared to mixed martial arts and UFC," she said prior to the decision. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had expressed concern about the event. "I think one of the things that might be relevant here is the concern that's there about concussion in general," he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday. "It's not really my responsibility as PM, but I do think that we need to be really cognisant about health advice when it comes to these issues because they are really prevalent." In 2021, fighter Justin Thornton reportedly died weeks after he suffered an injury following a knockout at a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in the United States. The Perth event had been scheduled to take place at RAC Arena on July 19. A bare-knuckle boxing event described as a "blood sport" has been canned following backlash from political leaders and health authorities. In a decision handed down on Thursday, Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission blocked the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's application to hold an event at Perth's RAC Arena in July. "The board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria," a spokesperson said. Tickets to the Australian-first event - including $6000 'Notorious Access' packages featuring a meet and greet with celebrity fighter Conor McGregor - had already been on sale before it was rejected by the commission's board. The event's promotion had sparked a political brawl, with medical professionals raising serious concerns about the health and safety of fighters and the message the event sent to the community. The downsides of the sport were "so obvious they barely needed repeating", Australian Medical Association WA branch president Michael Page said in a statement before the commission's decision. "We are in the grip of a domestic violence crisis and an epidemic of drug- and alcohol-fuelled street violence," Dr Page said. "Turning the act of bare-knuckle fighting into a 'sport' sets an incredibly bad example for children and adults alike. "The physical health of the fighters involved is also of concern." Dr Page described the event as "blood sport", while state opposition spokesperson Peter Rundle labelled it "state-sanctioned violence". WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti told reporters Perth had hosted dozens of combat sports events, with fans having flocked to UFC mixed martial arts bouts. "It's very hard to differentiate this type of event, compared to mixed martial arts and UFC," she said prior to the decision. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had expressed concern about the event. "I think one of the things that might be relevant here is the concern that's there about concussion in general," he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday. "It's not really my responsibility as PM, but I do think that we need to be really cognisant about health advice when it comes to these issues because they are really prevalent." In 2021, fighter Justin Thornton reportedly died weeks after he suffered an injury following a knockout at a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in the United States. The Perth event had been scheduled to take place at RAC Arena on July 19. A bare-knuckle boxing event described as a "blood sport" has been canned following backlash from political leaders and health authorities. In a decision handed down on Thursday, Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission blocked the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's application to hold an event at Perth's RAC Arena in July. "The board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria," a spokesperson said. Tickets to the Australian-first event - including $6000 'Notorious Access' packages featuring a meet and greet with celebrity fighter Conor McGregor - had already been on sale before it was rejected by the commission's board. The event's promotion had sparked a political brawl, with medical professionals raising serious concerns about the health and safety of fighters and the message the event sent to the community. The downsides of the sport were "so obvious they barely needed repeating", Australian Medical Association WA branch president Michael Page said in a statement before the commission's decision. "We are in the grip of a domestic violence crisis and an epidemic of drug- and alcohol-fuelled street violence," Dr Page said. "Turning the act of bare-knuckle fighting into a 'sport' sets an incredibly bad example for children and adults alike. "The physical health of the fighters involved is also of concern." Dr Page described the event as "blood sport", while state opposition spokesperson Peter Rundle labelled it "state-sanctioned violence". WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti told reporters Perth had hosted dozens of combat sports events, with fans having flocked to UFC mixed martial arts bouts. "It's very hard to differentiate this type of event, compared to mixed martial arts and UFC," she said prior to the decision. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had expressed concern about the event. "I think one of the things that might be relevant here is the concern that's there about concussion in general," he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday. "It's not really my responsibility as PM, but I do think that we need to be really cognisant about health advice when it comes to these issues because they are really prevalent." In 2021, fighter Justin Thornton reportedly died weeks after he suffered an injury following a knockout at a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in the United States. The Perth event had been scheduled to take place at RAC Arena on July 19.
