Latest news with #TheWest
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Belle Taylor: Reborns, Labubus and Annabelle — the whole world is playing with dolls
My house is full of babies. The toy baskets are full of them. There is one face down on the living-room floor and I suspect one or two under the couch. They seem to sprout, mushroom-like, from the deep recesses of doll-ville. These are my daughter's babies. I guess that technically makes me their grandmother but I'm usually assigned the role of sister, which seems to involve setting up the tea party while mum vigorously jiggles baby while yelling 'STOP CRYING' before declaring 'BABY HAPPY NOW' and flinging it head first to the corner of the room. It's probably important to point out my daughter is three. Although when it comes to dolls, age is no guarantee people won't get a little weird. There has been a spate of doll news of late. The strangest might be the rising craze for 'Reborn' dolls. These are incredibly lifelike baby dolls collected mainly by adults. A trend has emerged where people take these dolls out for walks in the pram, to the park and even on hospital visits. There are multiple videos online of people showing their 'evening routine' with their dolls — bathing them, dressing them, putting them in their cot for the night. It's all very calm and serene and at no point is anyone screaming: 'I'm not reading that book a sixth time! No! In the bed, not under it! I don't know why elephants have trunks. Wait, how did you get naked?' So it's not exactly true to life. The trend is particularly big in Brazil, where the craze has sparked something of a moral panic. Politicians across the country have filed at least 30 Bills to bar the dolls from accessing public services, with concerns the doll owners will try to take their charges to doctors or attempt to enrol them in day care. Other politicians are less worried, with MP Manoel Isidorio bringing his reborn 'granddaughter' into parliament, arguing that it was 'not a sin' to play with dolls. Pfft, Australian politicians would never take a doll to parliament. A lump of coal, a burqa, a full-sized dead salmon and a cardboard cut-out of Kevin Rudd maybe. But not a doll. Camera Icon Labubu Plushies. Credit: Instagram / TheWest At least the Reborn dolls are cute. The other doll craze sweeping the globe are Labubus — ugly, furry elf-like creatures with nine fang-like teeth. Labubus are sold by the Chinese chain store Pop Mart, but have become a global consumer phenomenon with people lining up to purchase the popular dolls. They have 'become a benchmark for China's pop culture making inroads overseas', according to China's Communist Party mouthpiece newspaper, People's Daily. 'The enthusiasm over Labubu may pass like any other viral trend,' The New York Times opined this week. 'But it could also be another sign that China, which has struggled to build cultural cachet overseas amid longstanding concerns about its authoritarian politics, is starting to claim some victories.' A headline in Foreign Policy in Focus this week: 'Labubu's rise mirrors declining trust in US leadership'. Sheesh. It's never just about the doll, huh? While Brazil nurtures their Reborns and China queues to buy Labubus, in the US it is one particular doll making headlines — a Raggedy Ann doll called Annabelle. Camera Icon The doll Annabelle in the movie Annabelle Comes Home. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures / AP The doll, which has featured in several horror movies, is supposedly haunted. It was part of a travelling exhibition of 'spooky' objects called the Devils On The Run tour when it supposedly went missing in New Orleans. By complete coincidence, the doll's disappearance coincided with a local fire and a jail break, leading people to blame the doll. That's a great example of taking two and two and getting 5 million. Of course Annabelle had nothing to do with either of those things. It's just a doll, a blank vessel on which to project our innermost desires and fears. Cuddle them, collect them, accuse them of arson. Dolls are just tiny mirrors and here we are, all over the world, staring back at them.
West Australian
5 hours ago
- Business
- West Australian
Perth pet groomers reveal some clients spend tens of thousands of dollars a year on their pet's appearance
Perth dog groomers have revealed their clients are spending thousands of dollars a year to have their pups puffed every week with some treating their 'furbaby' to regular facials, manicures and jacuzzi sessions at elite puppy parlours. Bookings are through the roof and wait-lists are lengthy at dog grooming centres as pet owners prioritise pooch maintenance despite cost-of-living strains. Groomers told The West Australian the rise in apartment living has boosted the popularity of small, non-shedding breeds who share a bed with their owner. 'I think due to a concentration of people living in small homes with small backyards — and more apartment-living — people are investing more in smaller companion breads,' Couture Canine co-founder Charmaine Cayeux said. 'We're growing away from chucking a dog in a kennel in the backyard. None of our clients do that, their dogs are inside. 'They're like velcro dogs so people want their dogs to be clean like children, they don't want them to have a grubby face or bottom, they want them clean and tidy and presentable.' Ms Cayeux's luxury services, which include doggy facials, jacuzzi sessions, nail painting and stylised haircuts, can range between $150 to $500. Couture Canine regular Emma Carruthers told The West she travels half an hour from Alkimos to the West Perth puppy salon because she 'only wants the best' for her Bichoodle Maru. 'I wanted to go there at first because they looked really fancy and I just wanted the best for my baby,' Ms Carruthers said. 'I tried them out and all the girls are super lovely and she's really happy here, she always comes out with a wagging tail so we keep coming back. 'I've never been anywhere as good as this place . . . she's never come out with a bad haircut.' Her 11-month-old 'baby' has a weekly bath and blow-dry, a haircut every six to eight weeks, and enjoys the jacuzzi and nail painting services on special occasions. 'I wanted to do it often just cause I don't like having a dirty dog and she sleeps in the bed with me so it's just nice to have her clean,' Ms Carruthers said. 'I like how fluffy she gets as well, she gets really curly when she gets wet so it's nice to get her blow-dried so she's all nice and fluffy.' The company has a wait-list with more than 50 dogs from all over the State who face a queue of at least a year to join the list of regular clients willing to fork out tens of thousands of dollars every year to maintain their pet's immaculate appearance. Australia has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, so it is no surprise that dog grooming businesses are booming in the west. FurBaby Groom and Pamper — one of the oldest privately run dog-grooming salons in WA — opened 10 years ago in Perth's northern suburbs. The owner Shari Fiorentino said the demand for her services has never been higher with some customers paying her close to $5000 a year to wash their dog once a week. 'The need for grooming has gone up exponentially since we started 10 years ago,' she said. 'People say 'I'll try from home' and then four weeks later they're back and they're like 'so that didn't work'. 'Let's face it, we don't want to be sleeping next to a smelly little thing so everyone's getting their dogs washed a lot more often than what they used to because they're living a lot closer to us humans than what we have ever seen before.' Marian Gorman, the owner of Madame Ma's dog-grooming service in West Perth, said her regular customers spend upwards of $7000 a year because 'dogs are family members that parents treat like babies'. 'They're so clever and intuitive and they are their owner's best friend, fur-baby and confidant all in one,' Ms Gorman said. The dog groomers confirmed poodle cross breeds like cavoodles, spoodles and groodles are by far their most regular clients. Barking Butler Grooming Studio co-founder Charlotte Butler said their four-legged clients are required to be groomed every eight weeks but often choose a weekly appointment. 'Consistency in grooming is the key to maintaining optimal coat and skin health,' she said. 'Our clients want their dogs to feel comfortable, stay healthy, and yes, look beautiful — and they understand that takes regular maintenance. 'More and more, we're seeing pet parents treat grooming not as a luxury, but as an essential part of their dog's health and well-being — and it's a beautiful thing.'
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Perth dog owners spending thousands pampering their pooches
Perth dog groomers have revealed their clients are spending thousands of dollars a year to have their pups puffed every week with some treating their 'furbaby' to regular facials, manicures and jacuzzi sessions at elite puppy parlours. Bookings are through the roof and wait-lists are lengthy at dog grooming centres as pet owners prioritise pooch maintenance despite cost-of-living strains. Groomers told The West Australian the rise in apartment living has boosted the popularity of small, non-shedding breeds who share a bed with their owner. 'I think due to a concentration of people living in small homes with small backyards — and more apartment-living — people are investing more in smaller companion breads,' Couture Canine co-founder Charmaine Cayeux said. 'We're growing away from chucking a dog in a kennel in the backyard. None of our clients do that, their dogs are inside. 'They're like velcro dogs so people want their dogs to be clean like children, they don't want them to have a grubby face or bottom, they want them clean and tidy and presentable.' Director and Founder of Couture Canine Charmaine Cayeux with Maru the Bichoodle getting her nails painted. Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian Ms Cayeux's luxury services, which include doggy facials, jacuzzi sessions, nail painting and stylised haircuts, can range between $150 to $500. Couture Canine regular Emma Carruthers told The West she travels half an hour from Alkimos to the West Perth puppy salon because she 'only wants the best' for her Bichoodle Maru. 'I wanted to go there at first because they looked really fancy and I just wanted the best for my baby,' Ms Carruthers said. 'I tried them out and all the girls are super lovely and she's really happy here, she always comes out with a wagging tail so we keep coming back. 'I've never been anywhere as good as this place . . . she's never come out with a bad haircut.' Her 11-month-old 'baby' has a weekly bath and blow-dry, a haircut every six to eight weeks, and enjoys the jacuzzi and nail painting services on special occasions. 'I wanted to do it often just cause I don't like having a dirty dog and she sleeps in the bed with me so it's just nice to have her clean,' Ms Carruthers said. 'I like how fluffy she gets as well, she gets really curly when she gets wet so it's nice to get her blow-dried so she's all nice and fluffy.' The company has a wait-list with more than 50 dogs from all over the State who face a queue of at least a year to join the list of regular clients willing to fork out tens of thousands of dollars every year to maintain their pet's immaculate appearance. Australia has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, so it is no surprise that dog grooming businesses are booming in the west. Maru the Bichoodle getting her nails painted. Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian FurBaby Groom and Pamper — one of the oldest privately run dog-grooming salons in WA — opened 10 years ago in Perth's northern suburbs. The owner Shari Fiorentino said the demand for her services has never been higher with some customers paying her close to $5000 a year to wash their dog once a week. 'The need for grooming has gone up exponentially since we started 10 years ago,' she said. 'People say 'I'll try from home' and then four weeks later they're back and they're like 'so that didn't work'. 'Let's face it, we don't want to be sleeping next to a smelly little thing so everyone's getting their dogs washed a lot more often than what they used to because they're living a lot closer to us humans than what we have ever seen before.' Marian Gorman, the owner of Madame Ma's dog-grooming service in West Perth, said her regular customers spend upwards of $7000 a year because 'dogs are family members that parents treat like babies'. 'They're so clever and intuitive and they are their owner's best friend, fur-baby and confidant all in one,' Ms Gorman said. The dog groomers confirmed poodle cross breeds like cavoodles, spoodles and groodles are by far their most regular clients. Barking Butler Grooming Studio co-founder Charlotte Butler said their four-legged clients are required to be groomed every eight weeks but often choose a weekly appointment. Barking Butler Grooming Studio co-founder Charlotte Butler. Credit: Barking Butler 'Consistency in grooming is the key to maintaining optimal coat and skin health,' she said. 'Our clients want their dogs to feel comfortable, stay healthy, and yes, look beautiful — and they understand that takes regular maintenance. 'More and more, we're seeing pet parents treat grooming not as a luxury, but as an essential part of their dog's health and well-being — and it's a beautiful thing.'
West Australian
16 hours ago
- Business
- West Australian
Age checking tech works but mostly it asks to see your ID despite government promises
Nearly all the companies involved in a technology trial ahead of the under-16s social media ban check how old people are by matching IDs and selfies, despite the Government insisting no one would be compelled to hand over official documents once the world-leading law starts. The ban will come into effect in December, with the onus on social media companies to make sure children aren't on their platforms. Preliminary findings from the age assurance trial published on Friday show the technology exists and is ready for deployment, although some will be easier to use than others. Project director Tony Allen said the aim was to work out if age assurance could be done, and there was plenty of evidence that it was technically feasible. 'There are lots of systems and processes out there and choices available, but we didn't find a ubiquitous one-size-fits-all solution that would work in all circumstances,' he told The West. An analysis of the methods used by the 32 providers that gave statements to the trial shows that the vast majority use a combination of cross-checking identification documents, such as passports or driver's licences, with facial scans. Former communications minister Michelle Rowland guaranteed in legislation last year that no Australian would be compelled to use government identification documents to verify their age with social media companies. 'Platforms must offer reasonable alternatives to users,' she said when the law passed. The government sees the trial as a way to explore the efficacy of age estimation and verification technology, not a tool to pick one product that social media companies must use. Communications Minister Anika Wells is waiting for the final report, expected to contain hundreds of pages of technical detail, to be handed to her next month. 'The government will be guided by advice from the eSafety Commissioner on the implementation of the law,' her spokesman said. 'We know that social media age-restrictions will not be the end-all be-all solution for harms experienced by young people online, but it's a step in the right direction to keep our kids safer.' Just five of the providers in the trial offered technology that didn't require documents at all. Mostly these worked from selfies or face scans, with one analysing a user's hand movements to determine their age. Several offered services that use a face scan to estimate age, then add a secondary step asking for documentary proof if the person is close to the age threshold. Mr Allen said that type of 'successive validation' was a common process. 'If the gateway is (age) 18, if you're 18, 19, 20, you're more likely, I suspect, to have to produce some more evidence that you're over 18 than maybe if you're in your 30s or 40s,' he said. But there were also services that required official documents to be provided at the outset, including two that scan the information on the chips contained in passports. Andrew Hammond, the trial's deputy project director, said there was a huge variety of technology aimed at doing different jobs in terms of checking someone's age or verifying their identity. Social media platforms were engaged in the trial process, including Meta and Snap who made a joint proposal for how they would check people's ages, although it was conceptual rather than being based on existing technology. Instagram already uses Yoti, which was also involved in the trial, to verify the ages of people it thinks might be under 13 via a video selfie. Digital Industry Group director of regulatory affairs Jenny Duxbury said the peak body for the sector would review the preliminary findings and continue to engage with the Government on how the social media ban could be implemented.
West Australian
a day ago
- Business
- West Australian
Industry wary but confident of environmental law overhaul after talks with new minister
Business leaders remain wary of environmental reforms following the nature positive disaster but new minister Murray Watt is doing a better job of earning their trust than his predecessor. Industry sources who attended an initial consultation on Thursday told The West they got a much better vibe from the new environment minister than Tanya Plibersek, who some said was more likely to take an 'it's my way or the highway' approach. The main sticking points to landing the reforms within Senator Watt's ambitious 18-month timetable are the scope of a Federal environmental protection agency and whether climate impacts should be added as a consideration for project approvals. The minister told the 30 groups represented at the roundtable — half in Canberra and half attending virtually — that he was determined to get the deal done and all sides would have to compromise. 'I think that people understand that we had a lost opportunity in not being able to reach agreement as a country about where these rules go,' Senator Watt said afterwards. 'If we don't pass these laws, then our environment faces more destruction. Businesses face more cost and delay in their projects.' Business Council Australia chief executive Bran Black backed the aim to get the changes through in the first half of this term. 'We need more projects approved and more homes built, and the closer we get to an election the harder it can sometimes get to achieve consensus,' he said. Peak bodies for resources, construction, agriculture and energy attended along with a range of environmental groups and key figures from Rio Tinto, BHP, AACo, Mirvac, Origin, Stockland and Lendlease. Industry representatives described the talks as a 'strong start', productive, and a 'constructive reset' although acknowledged there was a long way to go yet. It was the first time during Labor's efforts at overhauling the Howard-era laws that stakeholders from all sides had been in a room together and were able to put their views to the minister. Senator Watt told those gathered for the EPBC Act consultations that he had deliberately mixed up the seating around the large table in one of Parliament House's committee rooms so that 'we don't have an industry corner and an environment corner' in order to better encourage people to work together. He said there appeared to be genuine commitment from everyone to get something done. The view was echoed by one stakeholder, who said most of those involved had already been through several iterations of talks and no longer wanted to go through the motions and let it die. They thought Senator Watt was preparing to put forward something more achievable and acceptable than Ms Plibersek had tried. She had split the establishment of an EPA out from the environmental protection rule changes and proposed a model that went further than the Samuel review proposed. Ultimately, the nature positive legislation couldn't find support for either the Coalition or the Greens to pass. Others were encouraged that the minister's starting point seemed to be working with the existing Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act rather than seeking to write an entirely new Act. He also committed to a more transparent process and a comprehensive package that incorporated both the proposed new watchdog and the rule changes. Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA chief executive Rebecca Tomkinson said a 'robust and transparent consultation process that allows stakeholders to provide input at each stage and, crucially, to see the proposed legislative changes in their entirety before they are introduced to Parliament' was integral to achieving the objectives of better outcomes for the environment and business. Association of Mining and Exploration Companies head Warren Pearce said while there were still differing views, there was a clear desire on all sides to get this done. 'Minister Watt is pretty frank, he is seeking a package of reforms that can find broad support – and that will pass the Parliament – and to get it done in the first half of the new term,' he said. A top priority resources groups is removing the duplication between State and Federal processes, which will come down in part to the role of the new federal EPA and whether the Federal minister retains the powers to make ultimate approvals decisions. 'While a national EPA is clearly a key priority, questions remain around decision-making accountability,' Minerals Council of Australia head Tania Constable said. Environmental groups are pushing for a climate trigger to be included in the new laws, which many on the industry side see as a deal-breaker, pointing out that it would stop far more than just coal and gas projects. But Greenpeace's Glenn Walker said the environmental framework was already failing and needed fixing urgently. 'Central to all of this is an independent national environmental watchdog with teeth to enforce the laws and make decisions on approvals or large projects,' he said.
