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Two iconic locations officially given dual Indigenous titles

<p>In a significant move to recognise and honour the rich cultural heritage of the Indigenous peoples of Australia, two iconic locations in northern NSW will now be officially known by their Indigenous names. This decision comes after impassioned calls from the community to acknowledge the profound significance these sites hold in Indigenous culture and history.</p> <p>Walgan, translating to "shoulder" in the Bundjalung language, has been designated as the dual name for Cape Byron, marking it as the Australian mainland's most easterly point. Cape Byron, situated in the picturesque town of Byron Bay, has long been a hotspot for tourists seeking stunning coastal views. However, beyond its natural beauty, this area holds deep cultural significance for the Arakwal and other Bundjalung people. It has served as a sacred site for important gatherings and traditional ceremonial practices, anchoring it firmly in the cultural tapestry of the region.</p> <p>Similarly, Nguthungulli, referred to as the "Father of the World", will now share its name with Julian Rocks, a renowned diving destination located 2.5km off Cape Byron. This underwater marvel, steeped in Aboriginal lore and legend, is intricately tied to the dreaming stories of the Arakwal and other Bundjalung communities.</p> <p>By bestowing these dual names, authorities aim to not only pay homage to the Indigenous heritage of the land but also to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of its significance among all Australians.</p> <p>The decision to officially recognise these dual names was approved by the NSW Geographical Names Board, following a submission from the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Additionally, in a nod to preserving local Indigenous language and culture, a reserve in the suburb of Bangalow will be formally named Piccabeen Park. The term "Piccabeen" originates from the Bundjalung language, referring to the bangalow palm and the traditional baskets crafted from its fronds.</p> <p>Jihad Dib, the Customer Service Minister, emphasised the NSW government's commitment to safeguarding and promoting Indigenous language and culture through place naming. "All Australians share a relationship to the land and the names we give to places convey their significance, sense of history and identity," he said "Dual-naming acknowledges the significance of Aboriginal culture and represents a meaningful step towards the process of unity in NSW."</p> <p>Echoing these sentiments, David Harris, the Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty Minister, underscored the enduring connections that the Arakwal and other Bundjalung peoples have maintained with these sites since time immemorial. "It is only right to honour that history and that connection through names that bring story and language to life for all Australians to enjoy," he said.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Legal

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The funny reason Robert Irwin wants to hand over his citizenship

<p dir="ltr">Robert irwin has joined in the global outrage of Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig being <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/margot-robbie-snubbed-as-oscar-nominations-announced">snubbed</a> from the Oscar nominations. </p> <p dir="ltr">The wildlife warrior joined the panel of <em>The Project</em> on Wednesday night as a co-host of the show, where the conversation turned to the Aussie actress being snubbed by the Academy Awards. </p> <p dir="ltr">On Wednesday morning, it was revealed that Margot Robbie didn’t receive a Best Actress nomination for her role in <em>Barbie</em>, and nor did Greta Gerwig for Best Director, despite the movie breaking records when it was released in July. </p> <p dir="ltr">Around the world, <em>Barbie</em> fans shared their disgust in the snub, with Robert Irwin echoing their statements. </p> <p dir="ltr">“That's ridiculous. Come on,” he began.</p> <p dir="ltr">“[Director] Greta [Gerwig] and Margot made that movie. That's the reason why we have the Barbie movie, it's ridiculous.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Co-host Waleed Aly then asked if Robert would be renouncing his American citizenship over the injustice and was shocked by his response.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think it only makes sense,” Robert said. </p> <p dir="ltr">News of the snub went viral on Wednesday, with fans flocking to social media to share their thoughts. </p> <p dir="ltr">One particular tweet went viral, with over 109 thousand likes. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Ken getting nominated and not Barbie is honestly so fitting for a film about a man discovering the power of patriarchy in the Real World," the tweet read.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ryan Gosling, who received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Ken in the film, also shared a statement about the lack of recognition for the women he shared the screen with. </p> <p dir="ltr">In a lengthy statement, he said, “I never thought I’d be saying this, but I’m also incredibly honoured and proud that [the award] is for portraying a plastic doll named Ken.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“But there is no Ken without Barbie, and there is no <em>Barbie</em> movie without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally celebrated film. No recognition would be possible for anyone on the film without their talent, grit and genius.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“To say that I’m disappointed that they are not nominated in their respective categories would be an understatement.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-12395ffc-7fff-c7ac-e4b2-d185f404a16d"></span><em>Image credits: The Project</em></p>

Movies

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Waleed Aly goes head-to-head with mayor calling for IS brides’ citizenships to be revoked

<p dir="ltr">Waleed Aly has gone head-to-head with a mayor from western Sydney who slammed the government’s decision to resettle the repatriated brides and their children in the area.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The Project</em> co-host was speaking to disappointed Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone, who questioned why western Sydney was the “dumping ground” for the women and their children.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Carbone explained that members of the community have gotten in touch with him expressing deep concerns over the decision, particularly those who escaped Syria from the terrorist IS group.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don't think he [the prime minister] has taken into account the tens of thousands of refugees that fled their home, had their homes burnt back in Syria, have lost their loved ones, have watched a lot of their families be beheaded and burnt, and have come and resettled in Western Sydney,” Mr Carbone began.</p> <p dir="ltr">He argued that Syrians who helped the Australian army fight IS terrorists were more “Australian citizens than anyone else” before he was cut off by Waleed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Legally they're not, Australian citizens are a different category. We have obligations to Australian citizens that we don't have to refugees,” he pointed out.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Carbone did not accept the excuse, saying the IS brides committed treason under the “Commonwealth criminal code section 80” and should have their citizenships revoked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Treason is when you leave your country and you aide and abet, doesn't matter if you're baking a cake or scones and assisting ISIS, you're committing treason,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Under that act, you can have your citizenship revoked.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Waleed then pointed out that the brides would have to be convicted first to have their citizenship revoked and “that hasn’t happened”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You're talking a lot about kids here, in fact mostly about kids. Would you leave kids in camps overseas when they are Australian citizens?” he asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Carbone did not hesitate when he continued addressing the people’s concerns as to why Western Sydney was the dumping ground.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Why is it Western Sydney? Why is it Western Sydney when we have tens of thousands of people that fled ISIS?” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Australia is a big country, they [ISIS families] don't necessarily have to be in Western Sydney.”</p> <p dir="ltr">His comments come just a day after Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun, and Campbelltown Mayor George Greiss made the same accusation about their area being the dumping ground.</p> <p dir="ltr">Australia repatriated four women and their 13 children after being stuck in al-Hol and al-Roj camps in the northeastern Syria region since 2019.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is expected more women and children will follow in the next few weeks.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: The Project</em></p>

TV

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Would you pass? Aussie citizenship test undergoes major change

<p>The Australian citizenship test will be updated for the first time in over a decade to include a section on Australian values.</p> <p>The new test will have questions such as: “Should people in Australia make an effort to learn English?” and “In Australia, do religious laws override Australian law?”</p> <p>There will also be some more confronting questions such as whether it is acceptable for a husband to be violent towards his wife if she has disobeyed or disrespected him. Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge said he wanted would-be citizens to have a better understanding of the country’s values before they were declared an Australian.</p> <p>“The updated citizenship test will have new and more meaningful questions that require potential citizens to understand and commit to our values like freedom of speech, mutual respect, equality of opportunity, the importance of democracy and the rule of law,” he said.</p> <p>“We are asking those who apply for citizenship to understand our values more deeply before they make the ultimate commitment to our nation.”</p> <p>The updated citizenship test will have 20-multiple choice questions, including five on Aussie values.</p> <p>Those taking the test will be required to correctly answer all five questions on Australian values, and have a mark of at least 75 per cent to pass.</p> <p><strong>Questions from the updated citizenship test</strong></p> <p>• Why is it important that all Australian citizens vote to elect the state and federal parliament?</p> <p>• Should people in Australia make an effort to learn English?</p> <p>• In Australia, can you encourage violence against a person or group of people if you have been insulted?</p> <p>• Should people tolerate one another where they find that they disagree?</p> <p>• In Australia, are people free to choose who they marry or not marry?</p> <p>• In Australia, is it acceptable for a husband to be violent towards his wife if she has disobeyed or disrespected him?</p> <p>• In Australia, do religious laws override Australian law?</p> <p>• Do you agree that men and women should be provided equality of opportunity when pursuing their goals and interests?</p> <p>• Should people’s freedom of speech and freedom of expression be respected in Australia?</p>

Domestic Travel

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Remote-work visas will shape the future of work, travel and citizenship

<p>During lockdown, travel was not only a distant dream, it was unlawful. Some even <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-is-a-once-in-a-lifetime-chance-to-reshape-how-we-travel-134764">predicted</a> that how we travel would change forever. Those in power that broke travel bans <a href="https://theconversation.com/could-the-dominic-cummings-affair-damage-boris-johnson-in-the-long-term-heres-what-history-tells-us-139514">caused scandals</a>. The empty skies and <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-should-give-us-hope-that-we-are-able-to-tackle-the-climate-crisis-133174">hopes</a> that climate change could be tackled were a silver lining, of sorts. COVID-19 has certainly made travel morally divisive.</p> <p>Amid these anxieties, many countries eased lockdown restrictions at the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-532061480">exact time</a> the summer holiday season traditionally began. Many avoided flying, opting for staycations, and in mid-August 2020, global flights were <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104036/novel-coronavirus-weekly-flights-change-airlines-region/">down 47%</a> on the previous year. Even so, hundreds of thousands still holidayed abroad, only then to be caught out by sudden quarantine measures.</p> <p>In mid-August for example, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53773914">160,000 British holiday makers</a> were still in France when quarantine measures were imposed. On August 22, Croatia, Austria, and Trinidad and Tobago were added to the UK’s <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53871078">quarantine list</a>, then Switzerland, Jamaica and the Czech Republic <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53937997">the week after</a> – causing continued confusion and panic.</p> <p>This insistence on travelling abroad, with ensuing rushes to race home, has prompted much <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/europe-travel-coronavirus/2020/08/20/a426b6e4-e23e-11ea-82d8-5e55d47e90ca_story.html">tut-tutting</a>. Some have predicted travel and tourism may cause winter lockdowns. Flight shaming is already a <a href="https://theconversation.com/flight-shaming-how-to-spread-the-campaign-that-made-swedes-give-up-flying-for-good-133842">cultural sport</a> in Sweden, and vacation shaming has even become <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/europe-travel-coronavirus/2020/08/20/a426b6e4-e23e-11ea-82d8-5e55d47e90ca_story.html">a thing</a> in the US.</p> <p>Amid these moral panics, Barbados has reframed the conversation about travel by launching a “<a href="https://www.barbadoswelcomestamp.bb/">Barbados Welcome Stamp</a>” which allows visitors to stay and work remotely for up to 12 months.</p> <p>Prime Minister Mia Mottley explained the new visa has been prompted by COVID-19 making short-term visits difficult due to time-consuming testing and the potential for quarantine. But this isn’t a problem if you can visit for a few months and work through quarantine with the beach on your doorstep. This trend is rapidly spreading to other countries. <a href="https://forms.gov.bm/work-from-bermuda/">Bermuda</a>, <a href="https://e-resident.gov.ee/nomadvisa/">Estonia</a> and <a href="https://stopcov.ge/en/News/Article/Gov't_to_allow_int'l_citizens_to_work_remotely_from_Georgia">Georgia</a> have all launched remote work-friendly visas.</p> <p>I think these moves by smaller nations may change how we work and holiday forever. It could also change how many think about citizenship.</p> <p><strong>Digital nomads</strong></p> <p>This new take on visas and border controls may seem novel, but the idea of working remotely in paradise is not new. <a href="https://theconversation.com/digital-nomads-what-its-really-like-to-work-while-travelling-the-world-99345">Digital nomads</a> - often millennials engaged in mobile-friendly jobs such as e-commerce, copywriting and design - have been working in exotic destinations for the last decade. The <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/features/11597145/Living-and-working-in-paradise-the-rise-of-the-digital-nomad.html">mainstream press</a> started covering them in the mid-2010s.</p> <p>Fascinated by this, I started <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40558-020-00172-4">researching</a> the digital nomad lifestyle five years ago – and haven’t stopped. In 2015, digital nomads were seen as a niche but rising trend. Then COVID-19 paused the <a href="https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/has-covid-19-ruined-the-digital-nomad-ecf6772afda2">dream</a>. Digital nomad Marcus Dace was working in Bali when COVID-19 struck. His travel insurance was invalidated, and he’s now in a flat near Bristol wondering when he can travel.</p> <p>Dace’s story is common. He told me: “At least 50% of the nomads I knew returned to their home countries because of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/">CDC</a> and <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-office">Foreign Office</a> guidance.” Now this new burst of visa and border policy announcements has pulled digital nomads back into the <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/how-to-be-a-digital-nomad-and-work-remotely-while-travelling-the-world-vn09rd7j6">headlines</a>.</p> <p>So, will the lines between digital nomads and remote workers <a href="https://theconversation.com/five-workplace-trends-will-shape-life-after-lockdown-138077">blur?</a> COVID-19 might still be making international travel difficult. But remote work – the other foundation of digital nomadism – is now firmly in the mainstream. So much so that remote work is considered by many to be <a href="https://theconversation.com/remote-working-the-new-normal-for-many-but-it-comes-with-hidden-risks-new-research-133989">here to stay</a>.</p> <p>Before COVID-19, office workers were geographically tethered to their offices, and it was mainly business travellers and the lucky few digital nomads who were able to take their work with them and travel while working. Since the start of the pandemic, many digital nomads had to work in a single location, and office workers have become remote workers – giving them a glimpse of the digital nomad lifestyle.</p> <p>COVID-19 has upended other old certainties. Before the pandemic, digital nomads would tell me that they <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40558-020-00172-4">despised</a> being thought of as tourists. This is perhaps unsurprising: tourism was viewed as an escape from work. And other established norms have toppled: homes became offices, <a href="https://theconversation.com/after-coronavirus-how-seasonal-migration-and-empty-centres-might-change-our-cities-139439">city centres emptied</a>, and workers looked to <a href="https://www.rightmove.co.uk/press-centre/village-enquiries-double-as-city-dwellers-escape-to-the-country/">escape to the country</a>.</p> <p>Given this rate of change, it’s not such a leap of faith to accept tourist locations as remote work destinations.</p> <p><strong>A Japanese businessman predicted this</strong></p> <p>The idea of tourist destinations touting themselves as workplaces is not new. Japanese technologist <a href="https://ethw.org/Tsugio_Makimoto">Tsugio Makimoto</a> <a href="https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Digital+Nomad-p-9780471974994">predicted</a> the digital nomad phenomenon in 1997, decades before millennials Instagrammed themselves working remotely in Bali. He prophesied that the rise of remote working would force nation states “to compete for citizens”, and that digital nomadism would prompt “declines in materialism and nationalism”.</p> <p>Before COVID-19 – with populism and nationalism <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-new-right-how-a-frenchman-born-150-years-ago-inspired-the-extreme-nationalism-behind-brexit-and-donald-trump-117277">on the rise</a> – Makimoto’s prophecy seemed outlandish. Yet COVID-19 has turned <a href="https://theconversation.com/overtourism-a-growing-global-problem-100029">over-tourism</a> into under-tourism. And with a growing list of countries launching schemes, it seems nations are starting to “compete” for remote workers as well as tourists.</p> <p>The latest development is the Croatian government discussing a <a href="https://www.total-croatia-news.com/lifestyle/45869-croatian-bureaucracy-2-0">digital-nomad visa</a> – further upping the stakes. The effects of these changes are hard to predict. Will local businesses benefit more from long-term visitors than from hordes of cruise ship visitors swarming in for a day? Or will an influx of remote workers create Airbnb hotspots, <a href="https://qz.com/quartzy/1574182/ahead-of-its-ipo-what-even-is-airbnb-anymore/">pricing locals out</a> of popular destinations?</p> <p><strong>It’s down to employers</strong></p> <p>The real question is whether employers allow workers to switch country. It sounds far-fetched, but Google staff can already work remote until <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2020/08/21/salesforce-joins-google-and-facebook-in-extending-work-from-home-to-next-summer/">summer 2021</a>. Twitter and 17 other companies have <a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/354872">announced</a> employees can work remotely indefinitely.</p> <p>I’ve interviewed European workers in the UK during COVID-19 and some have been allowed to work remotely from home countries to be near family. At Microsoft’s <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/event/new-future-of-work/">The New Future of Work</a> conference, it was clear that most major companies were mobilising task forces and would launch <a href="https://theconversation.com/remote-working-is-here-to-stay-but-that-doesnt-mean-the-end-of-offices-or-city-centres-145414">new flexible working policies</a> in autumn 2020.</p> <p>Countries like Barbados will surely be watching closely to see which companies could be the first to launch employment contracts allowing workers to move countries. If this happens, the unspoken <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_contract#:%7E:text=The%20theory%20of%20an%20implicit,legitimacy%20to%20such%20a%20government">social contract</a> between employers and employees - that workers must stay in the same country – will be broken. Instead of booking a vacation, you might be soon booking a workcation.</p> <p><em>Written by Dave Cook. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/remote-work-visas-will-shape-the-future-of-work-travel-and-citizenship-145078">The Conversation.</a> </em></p> <p><em> </em></p>

Cruising

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Dual citizenship: your ticket to a grown-up gap year?

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most people who live in Australia would agree – it’s a pretty fantastic place. We’ve got a lifestyle which is envied across the world. So for many of us, becoming a citizen of another country isn’t something we’ve even remotely considered.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And with politicians currently dropping like flies for being dual citizens, you’d be forgiven for thinking it might be for the best if you stick with the green and gold right now.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But it turns out, applying for dual nationality with another country is actually a very good idea, even if you think you’re never going to live anywhere else.</span></p> <p><strong>Many Australians are eligible for dual citizenship</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 2016 census showed that 49 per cent of Australians were either born overseas or had at least one parent born overseas. This means that a large proportion of our population has a good chance of being eligible for citizenship via descent, in another nation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alison Johnson is the founder of </span><a href="https://www.wherecani.live/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">wherecani.live</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, an online service which shows where you are likely to be eligible for citizenship. She says the benefits of obtaining another citizenship are immense:</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Apart from reducing the cost and hassle of having to get visas to other countries, [becoming a dual citizen] opens up opportunities to live and work in those countries – you also receive the benefits and privileges… such as social services, and for the younger generations; schools and universities.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As well she explains, because of the way immigration systems work in many countries, when you obtain your second citizenship, you’re not only benefiting yourself but also your children and grandchildren.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The key thing… is that you can pass that citizenship on to your children or your grandchildren, and it opens up opportunities for them a generation down the line… so that they are able to work and live and move around the world freely,” Johnson adds.</span></p> <p><strong>How to check your eligibility</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Different countries have different immigration laws regarding how and when citizenship by descent will be granted – and these laws can often be quite complex.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ireland, for example, may grant you citizenship if one of your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents was born in Ireland, regardless of your birthplace.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The situation is similar in Italy, where you’re eligible for citizenship if you can prove you have an Italian ancestor anywhere down the line, as long as their citizenship was not renounced.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If one of your grandparents was born in the United Kingdom and you live in a Commonwealth country, you may be eligible to work in the UK provided you can prove you won’t be dependent on public funds.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additionally, if you or your spouse is a British citizen and you’re seeking to citizenship for your child, you need to do this before they turn 18 or they could miss out on full citizenship.</span></p> <p><strong>Citizenship by investment</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many countries around the world also offer citizenship-by-investment programs, which grant full citizenship, as well as residency programs allowing you to freely live and work in the country. You can invest by buying real estate, starting a business, investing in local companies, buying government bonds or having your pension paid into the country.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For example, if you buy a property in Malta for €220,000 ($329,000 AUD) or in Portugal for €350,000 ($530,000 AUD), you can apply for a residency permit and be on a pathway to eventual citizenship, if you commit to live there for an extended period (usually five years or more).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Closer to home, if you can prove you and your spouse receive $3,500 AUD a month (for example from superannuation payments or income from investments), you’re eligible for residency in Vanuatu.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Johnson says the countries benefit because they have more sources of income flowing in and she adds: “At the same time, people get to have a beautiful lifestyle on a beautiful island, so it works well for both parties.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Certainly sounds like it could be a great way to retire!</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Written by Jamie Feggans. Republished with permission of </span><a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/lifestyle/wyza-life/dual-citizenship-your-passport-to-a-grown-up-gap-year.aspx"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wyza.com.au.</span></a></p>

Travel Tips

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Sing your way to fluency: How music can help you learn a new language

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Learning a new language can take time. It can often require years of homework and tutoring sessions, as well as maintaining personal discipline to study every day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For those who have studied a language, they know first hand how difficult it could be to learn a foreign tongue, especially if you don’t speak it often.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As repetition and rhythm are two crucial components when learning a language, this is exactly where music comes in.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Earworms MBT Language Learning Bundle</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a language learning program based on music.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The reference to “earworms” in the title refers to the phenomenon when a catchy song gets stuck in your head and refuses to escape, no matter what you do.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The course uses the same principle to teach you a new language. </span></p> <p><strong>How it works</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You simply listen to music that is filled with rhythmic repetitions to start learning a range of verbs, nouns and useful words and phrases.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before you know it, you’ll be able to navigate common situations and hold a general conversation in a new language.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Listening to music puts you in a relaxed state of alertness, or the “alpha state”. This is not unlike the elusive “flow state” that’s often sought after by creatives, and is considered to be the ideal state for learning.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When you listen to music that’s designed to teach you a new language, you bury the words deep into your aural cortex, which is the part of your brain that handles instant word recall.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You’re able to choose from a range of languages, including Latin American Spanish, Italian, German and French. Once you choose your language, you’re given 200 minutes of continuous audio as well as access to a supplementary phrasebook.</span></p>

Music

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There is an embarrassing mistake in the Australian citizenship test

<p>An English expat has found a mistake on the Australian citizenship test and was left stumped when she came across a question that had three incorrect answers.</p> <p><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>DailyMail reports</strong></em></span></a> the woman has been studying the Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond booklet in anticipation of the quiz, when she came across a misleading question regarding the size of the country’s population.</p> <p>“The three options were '18 million', '22 million' and '30 million',” she told <em>SBS</em>.</p> <p>“It made me think, ''well, I know 22 million is wrong, I know 18 million is wrong, should I just put 30 million?'”</p> <p>“I told the examiner, 'I think there's a mistake in the exam'... He said ''22 million is the right one'.”</p> <p>But, as <em>DailyMail</em> reports, 22 million is the incorrect answer as Australia’s population <span>surpassed </span>that mark back in 2011.</p> <p>The test includes 20 questions and requires 15 correct answers to pass.</p> <p>The Department of Home Affairs released a statement regarding the test: “To maintain the integrity of the citizenship test, all questions and answers are confidential. It would be inappropriate for the Department of Home Affairs to comment further on the contents of the citizenship test.</p> <p>“The Common Bond Booklet contains 20 sample test questions to assist applicants in preparing for the test.</p> <p>“For clients who sat the citizenship test from 1 July 2017 to 30 April 2018, the failure rate was 2.9 per cent.</p> <p>“A person is allowed to attempt to pass the test on three occasions on the one day. They may attempt the test a number of times.”</p> <p>What are your thoughts?</p>

Legal

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Bill Shorten under fire – insisted no dual citizens in his party for 10 months

<p>Labor leader Bill Shorten has failed to apologise after incorrectly claiming that no Labor politicians could be dual citizens because of the party’s strict vetting process.</p> <p>On Wednesday, the High Court ruled Labor Senator Katy Gallagher was ineligible to sit in Parliament because she had not renounced her British citizenship by the 2016 federal election.</p> <p>The ruling sparked the prompt resignation of four other politicians – Labor MPs Justine Keay, Josh Wilson and Susan Lamb, and crossbencher Rebekha Sharkie.</p> <p>Next month, they all plan to recontest their seats in a by-election, reported <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/labor-leader-bill-shorten-insisted-there-were-no-dual-citizens-in-his-party-for-10-months/news-story/0af977e227123dd34fe937246bacf211" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Daily Telegraph.</span></strong></em></a></p> <p>The Liberal Party will contest Ms Keay’s Tasmanian seat of Braddon, Ms Lamb’s Queensland seat of Longman and Ms Sharkie’s South Australian seat of Mayo – which are all marginal and were recently held by the Liberals.</p> <p>For 10 months, Mr Shorten repeatedly claimed none of his MPs were dual citizens because of Labor’s vigorous vetting process for political candidates.</p> <p>“We have a strict vetting process. There is no cloud over any of our people, let’s be straight here,” he said in ­August.</p> <p>When Mr Shorten was later questioned about a Labor politician’s potential foreign citizenship, he repeated the claim.</p> <p>In August, Mr Shorten rejected Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s request to refer all politicians with questionable citizenship status to the High Court.</p> <p>He agreed that it was “manifestly in the national ­interest” for the High Court to determine eligibility but said: “The Labor Party has the strictest processes in place to ensure all candidates are compliant with the Constitution prior to their nomination for election. Therefore, I politely decline your offer.”</p> <p>Yesterday, Mr Shorten offered no apology for the error of judgement but blamed the ALP’s lawyers and said the High Court had set a new precedent.</p> <p>“At all times the Labor Party has acted in good faith. I have relied upon the legal advice provided to me by the Labor Party,” he said.</p>

News

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Why disqualified pollies won’t have to repay their salaries

<p>For months now, Canberra has been rocked by a scandal that’s seen eight MPs and senators stripped of their jobs after failing to disclose (and renounce) their dual citizenships prior to running for office.</p> <p>As the embarrassing saga continues, many Australians want to know if the affected pollies will be forced to repay their salaries, given they breached the constitution when entering their seats.</p> <p>The average backbencher’s salary stands at around $200,000 – not to mention entitlements and superannuation – but it seems those caught up in the scandal will not be made to reimburse taxpayers.</p> <p>The reason why is a little complicated, the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-14/citizenship-saga:-will-mps-have-to-repay-salaries/9150052" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">ABC explains</span></strong></a>.</p> <p>“Back in 1907, the High Court ruled that any votes made on legislation still stand, even after a member is booted from parliament,” writes political reporter Jane Norman.</p> <p>“So a disqualified member’s service is still recognised. Even though they were not supposed to be there, they were still doing their job."</p> <p>Despite the disqualified MPs’ combined salaries totalling millions of dollars, in terms of the federal budget ($465 billion), it means very little.</p> <p>In addition, the Commonwealth argues that the same amount of money would have been spent regardless. “Whoever filled that Lower House seat or Senate spot would have been paid a salary with entitlements and superannuation, so it is basically budget neutral," Norman explains.</p> <p>Tell us in the comments below, do you think the politicians caught up in the dual citizenship scandal should be made to repay their salaries?</p>

Money & Banking

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This city council has cancelled Australia Day celebrations

<p>Last night, Yarra City councillors voted to stop referring to January 26 as Australia Day, cancelling future celebrations and banning citizenship ceremonies from being held on that day, starting next year, out of respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The proposal passed unanimously, despite pressure from the federal government against the move.</p> <p>Councillor Mi-Lin Chen Yi Mei said it was an important step forward, saying the current date simply isn’t inclusive. “It’s really an opportunity to engage with the community and to educate them on indigenous affairs,” she said.</p> <p>This morning on the <em>Today</em> show, host Karl Stefanovic spoke out passionately in support of changing the date, but revealing it took some time to change his mind.</p> <p>“There is an argument in this country for Australia Day to be moved,” he began. “What do you think? My initial response is what many would think ... ‘C'mon, leave it alone. Indigenous and Torres Strait islanders, this is our day, all of us. Everyone come together. Commemorate but also celebrate. After all, that’s what we do on Anzac Day."</p> <p>“But I’ve changed my mind. Having spoken to several people from those communities, I empathise. As hard as some want to ignore it, January 26 marks a day this land changed forever for one of the oldest and most beautiful cultures in the world."</p> <p>“To this day, mortality rates for indigenous and Torres Strait islanders are alarming. It wasn’t until March 1962 the Menzies government finally gave the right to vote for all A<span>boriginal people. We look back at the horror of the Stolen Generation ... Earlier in the 20th century, the White Australia Policy, then we look at what happened in Tasmania."</span></p> <p>“They are all facts and all incredibly painful. If we are to truly follow through with the apology and move forward together hand in hand, arm in arm, then I believe it must change. So let’s do it together. Certainly let’s debate it together.”</p> <p>While there is certainly support for the idea of changing the date, Yarra Council’s vote has angered Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Alex Hawke, who has responded by urging other councils not to make the same decision.</p> <p>“Local councils are now on notice that if they politicise Australian citizenship, the government will see it as a breach of the (Australian Citizenship Ceremonies) code and take the appropriate action,” he warned.</p> <p>The threat doesn’t worry Mayor Amanda Stone, however, who told <a href="http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/yarra-council-scraps-australia-day-celebrations-wont-hold-citizenship-ceremonies/news-story/de3f0b228d3d9f30476ef1e7f3de3780" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">AAP</span></strong></a> there was nothing in the code that said councils were required to hold citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day. “The code actually says you shouldn’t use a ceremony to promote a political agenda or a religious agenda or commercial agenda,” she explained. “We wouldn’t be intending to do that. We are simply considering changing when we hold our first citizenship ceremony of the year.”</p> <p>Do you think the date of Australia Day should be changed? If so, which date do you think would be more appropriate? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.</p>

News

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Does the new citizenship test ask for university-level standard of English?

<p>As part of the proposed overhaul of Australia’s citizenship test, the Federal Government wants to introduce a tougher new English language competency test.</p> <p>The changes outline state “aspiring citizens” will be required to "undertake separate upfront English language testing with an accredited provider and achieve a minimum level of ‘competent’."</p> <p>Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said in a press release that applicants will need to reach a threshold for elements of reading, writing, listening and speaking, that is the equivalent of level 6 of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). </p> <p>Tony Burke, the Opposition spokesman for citizenship and multicultural Australia, claims the new language test would demand the same level of English proficiency that is required for university admission, a standard he said was too stringent. </p> <p>"The Howard government introduced a test, which we supported when they introduced it. It's a test that is in English. You basically need to have conversational-level English to be able to pass it and that is reasonable. What the Government is now demanding is university-level English. Now, that's ridiculous,” he said on the ABC's Insiders program on June 25.</p> <p>Mr Dutton dismissed the claims, so who is correct? Does the proposed English language test demand a university-level standard of English?</p> <p>The <strong><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/factcheck/2017-06-28/tony-burke-citizenship-test-university-level-english-dutton/8656754">RMIT ABC Fact Check</a></strong> investigated the claims, finding that Mr Burke’s claims are correct.</p> <p>Language testing experts have confirmed that the applicants sitting the new test would need to meet a standard equivalent to university entrants.</p> <p>The <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://ielts.com.au/https://ielts.com.au/computer-delivered-ielts/" target="_blank">IELTS</a></strong></span> measures the language proficiency of people who want to study or work in English-speaking countries, running from a band score one (non-English speakers) to band score nine (expert).</p> <p>According to the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/how-ielts-is-scored" target="_blank">IELTS official site</a></strong></span>, there are two types of IELTS tests: Academic and General Training.</p> <p>The General Training type focuses on broader social and workplace contexts, generally considered easier than the Academic type, which is for people apply for higher education or professional registration.</p> <p>Take a look at the scale here:</p> <p><img width="479" height="427" src="http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/sites/sbs.com.au.yourlanguage/files/styles/body_image/public/ilets1_0.jpg?itok=aQSYTi98&amp;mtime=1493021127" alt="IELTS" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Currently, international students in Australia who want to study full-time in a recognised education institution, need an overall IELTS score of 5.5 for Academic type. Most universities, however, set their requirement to an overall score of 6.5.</p> <p>International linguistics expert <a href="http://musse.unimelb.edu.au/february-15-151/professor-tim-mcnamara-wins-prestigious-cambridgeilta-award">Professor Tim McNamara</a>, at the University of Melbourne, who was  involved in the creation of IELTS, told Fact Check: "The level that is required in the reforms is the same level that many university courses in Australia require for entry."</p> <p>He added, "The tasks (in the academic and general streams) are different but the standard required is the same.</p> <p>"It doesn't matter if you take one or the other — people sometimes take the academic one for immigration purposes. But the level to pass is identical."</p>

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