Bension Siebert
VerifiedArticles by Bension Siebert
How sex work saved my investigative journalism career
In this week’s Culture Bite, Bension Siebert explores the career-defining events that led him to sex work and why investigative reporting often gets censored in Australia. I was scrolling news apps, earphones in, on the tram into work one morning last year when Sally Sara stopped talking and my phone buzzed. It was my boss’s boss (unusual, but not alarming). I picked up the call and her tone was sombre. She was sorry. There would be a meeting. I could bring a support person.
Metal detectorist finds long-lost WWII sweetheart bracelet in Tasmanian front yard
A glint of silver, hidden in the soil of a front yard in regional Tasmania, has turned out to be the long-buried heirloom of a wartime romance.
Tourists ask where summer is as Hobart shivers through coldest December day in 50 years
An unusually miserable first fortnight of summer for Hobart has caught tourists off guard and cost local businesses money, with authorities confirming yesterday was the coldest December day in more than 50 years.
Southern Cross Care's overhaul of Tasmanian homes dismissed by union as 'diabolical'
Tasmania's largest aged care provider plans to train food preparation staff to also directly care for residents as part of an operational overhaul, but the union representing many of its workers has labelled it "diabolical".
State regulators considering action over real estate websites pressuring rental applicants
Regulators in four states are considering taking action after an ABC investigation into real estate websites that pressure rental applicants to pay for their own background checks.
Renters pressured to pay for own background checks
People who're applying for a place to rent are being asked to pay for their own background checks through increasingly popular online platforms A tenancy law expert says it could be illegal in several states. More Information Featured: Louise Carmona, Perth renter Dr Chris Martin, University of New South Wales Ben Bartl, Tenants' Union of Tasmania Credits Bension Siebert, Reporter Broadcast 1h ago1 hours agoWed 2 Nov 2022 at 7:00pm
Rental applicants across the country pressured to pay for their own background checks
When Louise Carmona was told her rent would be rising by $120 a week, she knew she, her husband and their four kids were going to have to find somewhere else to live.
Macquarie Point in Hobart confirmed as new stadium site by Tasmanian government ahead of AFL bid Original
The Tasmanian Government says it will build a 23,000-seat stadium south-east of Hobart's CBD on what is understood to be the AFL's preferred site — but only if club presidents allow the state to have its own team.
Birmingham Commonwealth Games athletes add UK heatwave to their list of challenges
The record temperatures in Britain have had mixed results on Australia's Commonwealth Games hopefuls, with the opening ceremony now just a week away.
Regional councillor denies conflict allegations referred to government watchdog
A regional Victorian council has voted to refer one of its councillors to the Local Government Inspectorate over allegations she could have broken the law.
Here's what Mallee candidates are planning to do about the environment, water, and climate change
Michael Panayi's face was burnt and his goggles melted when a fireball hit him during the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009. He said he was standing 70 to 80 metres away from the blaze when he was struck, and the fire was behaving in ways he had never seen before. "This was unseen on the ground at that point in time," he said. Mr Panayi lives in the Victorian small town of Kingower, in the electorate of Mallee.
Rhiley and his young family need a house to live in. Here's what Mallee candidates say they'll do to help people like him
Rhiley Dunmore and his fiancee, Brandi, live in a bedroom in her parents' Horsham house with the couple's infant daughter. Mr Dunmore, 19, is a few weeks into a new job as a computer technician and his partner, 22, is a stay-at-home mum. He says there's just not enough space. "It's just a bit of a struggle, all in one bedroom. "I've got a cot in there, I've got a desk for my computer — I've set that up on my bedside table.
Mallee candidates have roads, rail and telecoms high on wish lists
What local project do you want to see the Commonwealth fund?
The pandemic exposed regional Victoria's skill shortages. Here's how Mallee candidates would solve them
Liam Wood has seen the skills shortage crisis in the Mallee from many different angles.
Country doctor shortages are taking a toll on people's health. Mallee candidates share their healthcare plans
People in western Victoria are being diagnosed with serious illnesses later, and sometimes too late to save their lives, because of the region's medical workers' shortage, the Rural Doctors Association of Australia president Megan Belot says.
Pride lobby calls for Wimmera Mayor to apologise for 'upsetting' comments after council votes not to fly rainbow flag
The Victorian Pride Lobby says West Wimmera Shire Mayor Bruce Meyer needs to apologise publicly for comments he made after his council voted against flying the rainbow flag for the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).
Why can't the Australian Electoral Commission just enrol everyone when they turn 18?
Roughly half a million Australians are likely to miss out on voting at the federal election in May. Key points: Young people are most likely to be disenfranchised by failing to enrol in time The Australian Electoral Commission directly enrols some people The electoral roll closes at 8pm tonight The Australian Electoral Commission estimates that's how many people will have failed to get on the electoral roll by tonight's 8pm cut-off. Ella Beard, 18, will not be one of them.
ABC and SBS partnerships, tax breaks among recommendations to ensure regional newspapers' future
Tax breaks and fostering partnerships between the ABC and SBS have been listed among key recommendations by a federal parliamentary committee to ensure the survival of regional newspapers.
'No position is worth your mental health': Mildura Deputy Mayor resigns, citing bullies
Mildura Deputy Mayor Cyndi Power has resigned from the council, citing bullying and "choosing my health and sanity" over continuing in the position. Key points: Mildura Cyndi Power says "no position is worth your mental health" Several female candidates called out abuse at the last Mildura Council election Mayor Liam Wood says support is being offered at this "difficult time" Ms Power announced the resignation in a post on social media, saying "no position is worth your mental health".
Journalism - Topic - ABC News
Boost for regional news as ABC opens bureau in Charleville News coverage in south-west Queensland receives a boost as the ABC opens a bureau in Charleville, as part of a commitment to invest more in regional and rural journalism. Posted Thu at 7:11amThursday at 7:11amThu 10 Mar 2022 at 7:11am False information on Ukraine is running rampant.
Media releases written by politicians' staff are being presented as news stories in regional Australia
Media releases written by politicians' staff are being copy-pasted into some regional newspapers and presented as news stories.
Vaccination drive slows for Aboriginal kids in the Mallee due to health staff shortages
A major staff shortage is preventing the main Aboriginal healthcare service in the Mallee from ramping up COVID vaccinations for First Nations children before school resumes next week.
Victoria's westernmost clubs want to join forces. Is 2022 a year of country footy mergers?
This year will be the last for two of Victoria's westernmost amateur sports teams in what could be a sign of things to come statewide. Nhill's sporting club, the Tigers, and Kaniva-Leeor's football and netball teams, the Cougars, have confirmed they want to become one in 2023 as the best way to secure their futures. Loading It comes as the future of leagues on the South Australian side of the border, in which Kaniva played before the pandemic and border closures hit, is also in doubt.
North-west Victorian residents face spending Christmas alone after COVID exposures
Christmas visits and gatherings are likely to be cancelled for residents of two Wimmera aged care facilities, after a specialist who visited them early this week later tested positive for COVID-19.
Push for rehab facility in Broken Hill
Although health authorities are worried about the number of overdose deaths in the outback NSW town of Broken Hill, the nearest rehab facility is hundreds of kilometres away.
Murray cod, golden perch populations reviving slowly with flowing Darling-Anabranch
Millions of fish could potentially make their way down the Darling-Anabranch over the next year as water continues flowing down the river system — a different picture to the mass fish deaths of three years ago.
Wilcannia now has zero active cases of COVID-19, overcoming Australia's worst per capita outbreak
There are now zero active cases of COVID-19 in Wilcannia after local health authorities declared the last two infected people free of the virus.
Planned new library and cultural precinct in Broken Hill receives $9m boost
Broken Hill City Council has received nearly nine million dollars from the federal government to help establish its planned new library and cultural precinct for the city.
Mad Max: Furiosa, starring Chris Hemsworth, is still coming to far-west NSW in 2022
The cast and crew of Mad Max: Furiosa are still booked to stay in far-west New South Wales for filming in April next year, despite news that the film's release date has been pushed back a year.
Silver City Show rejects former secretary's claim it is 'finished' and never returning to Broken Hill
The Silver City Show has rejected its former secretary's claim that the event will run out of money and never return to Broken Hill. Key points: The annual Silver City Show has been running for more than a century The 2020 and 2021 shows have been cancelled because of COVID-19 restrictions Show organisers say financial problems will not stop the show in 2022 The show would have opened on Thursday but was forced to cancel for the second year in a row because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Broken Hill mayor's COVID 'genocide' comparison labelled 'disgusting' by NSW Deputy Premier
The New South Wales Deputy Premier has criticised Broken Hill's mayor Darriea Turley after she equated inadequate COVID planning to genocide.
Brad Hazzard admits housing supply an issue ahead of Wilcannia's COVID-19 outbreak
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has admitted the state government could have responded better to community concerns about the lack of housing in Wilcannia ahead of its COVID-19 outbreak.
Broken Hill in 'most worrying situation yet' as city records six new COVID cases
Broken Hill health authorities are fearful the city is in its most concerning position since the start of the pandemic, with several mystery cases and a false test result leading to someone working while infectious.
Wilcannia demands apology after John Barilaro compares mourners to 'dickheads in Maroubra'
Community members in Wilcannia are asking the NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro for an explanation after he compared mourners with "dickhead" party goers in Maroubra.
COVID-free Menindee hopes for the best, but locals are preparing for the worst
As COVID-19 continues to spread in Far West New South Wales, the Menindee community has started planning its response should it face an outbreak.
'Selfish' Wilcannia mourners weren't the ones who didn't 'give a damn', brother tells Health Minister
New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazzard has expressed regret over comments he made equating mourners at a funeral in a predominantly Aboriginal outback town with people who attended an illegal gathering in Sydney's east.
New COVID-19 cases in Far West NSW troubling for health authorities, as outbreak climbs to 12
A Broken Hill resident who attended a funeral in Wilcannia a week ago has been diagnosed with COVID-19, with authorities worried they've been infectious in the community for several days.
Health authorities fear Wilcannia funeral could be a 'major' COVID event as NSW Far West cases climb
NSW health authorities are fearful a funeral in Wilcannia attended by more than 100 people may be a "major seeding event" after it was confirmed COVID-19 community transmission happened there.
Wilcannia children's soccer team returns to Broken Hill after weeks away over COVID-19 worries
The Wilcannia children's soccer team returned to Broken Hill this weekend after two weeks off for fear of the risk of COVID-19.
Coroner to launch inquest into death of Barkandji man after Broken Hill police pursuit
The New South Wales coroner will launch an inquest into the death of a Barkandji man after a police pursuit in Broken Hill earlier this year. Key points: Police say the man died after running away from police in Broken Hill Strike Force Udall has been set up to investigate the incident A date for the coroner's inquest has yet to be set Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following story contains the name and image of a person who has died.
Floodwaters see long-absent native species return to the Menindee Lakes System in outback New South Wales
With water comes wildlife and after five long, dry years the Menindee Lakes system is filling with both. The political battle over the Murray-Darling Basin Plan has often been fought here, with locals expressing fury at mass fish kills and "excess" upstream irrigation. But floodwaters — enough to fill Sydney Harbour twice — reached the largest natural depression in the wetlands system in April.
St John Ambulance volunteer Sandra Haring receives OAM after more than 50 years of service to Broken Hill
Sandra Haring, a lifelong volunteer and leader at St John Ambulance in Broken Hill, has received a Medal of the Order of Australia for her service to the city.
Water brings joy, prosperity to the outback town of Menindee after years of hardship
As the floodgates to Lake Menindee opened last month, sending water blasting onto the enormous expanse of dry dirt, a historic transformation began — not only for the landscape but for the people. More than half a decade of drought and the trauma of mass fish kills have tested the small community of Menindee, about 100 kilometres south-east of Broken Hill. In April, for the first time since 2016, the NSW government had enough floodwaters to release from Lake Pamamaroo to Lake Menindee.
'Silliest place in Australia to have a playground': Proposal for Broken Hill's Line of Lode under fire
A proposal to build a playground at Broken Hill's iconic Line of Lode Lookout and Miners' Memorial "defies logic" according to an environmental contamination expert.
Broken Hill City Council approves one-bedroom brothel in Duff Street house
A one-worker, one-bedroom sex services operation in a house on Duff Street is set to become the only council-approved brothel in Broken Hill. Key points: Mayor Darriea Turley says the facility is safer for sex workers than unregulated temporary accommodation The business is considered a "home occupation" rather than a "brothel" One neighbour objected to the plans, but council staff approved the project last week The brothel's approval is believed to be the first in decades for the town.
Broken Hill Hospital inquest commences following Alex Braes's death from infected toenail
The inquest into the death of Broken Hill teenager Alex Braes, who died of an infected toenail four years ago, will begin on Monday. Alex Braes, 18, died at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney on September 22, 2017, after being transferred from the local hospital.
Broken Hill Hospital inquest commences following Alex Braes's death from infected toenail
The inquest into the death of Broken Hill teenager Alex Braes, who died of an infected toenail four years ago, will begin today.
AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine rollout begins in Far West NSW after delivery delay
The first COVID-19 jabs have been administered in Broken Hill after a short, unexplained delay in the delivery of AstraZeneca vaccines to the New South Wales region.
'Doesn’t work on a cloudy, hot, or windy day': Outback phone towers leave locals offline
Unreliable phone and internet coverage in the Far West of New South Wales is leaving some remote tourist operators and graziers feeling ripped off and vulnerable.
RAH doctors cleared of wrongdoing over 'unauthorised' heart procedure on man who died after surgery
© Provided by ABC Health An SA Health investigation cleared cardiologists of misconduct in 2017, but another investigation was ongoing as late as last year. (Supplied: AdobeStock) Cardiologists at South Australia's biggest hospital have been cleared of wrongdoing after they performed an 'unauthorised' heart procedure on an elderly patient who died after surgery.
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