AI experts say that AI could potentially start new cults, become an influential propaganda machine, disseminate misinformation and fake news, incite widespread public distrust of the media, thus corrupt free speech, and can ultimately defenestrate democracy.

Today, the Australians for Artificial Intelligence Safety Group created an open letter calling for the Australian government to take AI safety seriously and regulate the industry.

Despite calls around the globe and mounting concerns of the real-world harms that AI contributes to, a spokesperson for Australians for AI Safety Group said Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic, dismissed these warnings stating they are darkly negative. Members of the government, then, are not taking the catastrophic or existential risks of AI seriously, unlike other countries including Singapore and the UK. Singapore has created the AI Verify Foundation, working to develop AI testing tools to enable safe and responsible AI. Similar safety-focused government labs are proposed in the UK.  Australia is yet to propose a national lab of this kind.

The Wires Bianca Mulheron spoke with Professor Peter Vamplew, an expert in information technology at Federation University on the increasing dangers of Artificial Intelligence.

Produced By: Bianca Mulheron

First aired on The Wire, Friday 21 July 2023

The post The Perilous Dangers of Artificial Intelligence appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.

Over 75% of Queenslanders formally and informally were engaged in volunteering work in 2020, that is 3 million people. And this week, Volunteering Queensland has announced it will be undertaking the 2023 State of Volunteering in Queensland Report to explore and better understand the current state of the sector post Covid-19.

This report is a follow-up from the first report in 2021, which was the States first in depth study of the nature, scale and value of volunteering in Queensland.. 

Three years on, post COVID-19 shut-downs, a catastrophic SE Queensland natural disaster, and significant changes to our volunteering eco-system, finding the health of the sector is more vital than ever, and speaking with The Wires Aryana Mohmood about this is Rikki Anderson, Project Manager for the State of Volunteering in Queensland Report. 

Produced By: Aryana Mohmood

Featured In Story: Rikki Anderson, Project Manager for the State of Volunteering in Queensland Report

First aired on The Wire, Friday 21 July 2023

The post Volunteering Queensland announces second State of Volunteering in Queensland report appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.

Despite the Federal Governments intervention in the energy market, customers will see their electricity prices soar by as much as 25% depending on their region. With breaking news of impending gas shortages due this winter, Australians are in desperate need of alternatives to using gas for heating and cooking.

Surprisingly air fryers have become a beacon of affordability to Aussies, as they use significantly less power than conventional ovens. While pressure cookers are inexpensive and allow families to use cheaper ingredients, meals can be ready within 20 minutes music to the ears of many time-poor families.

The Wires Aryana Mohmood spoke to Emma White, Food Technologist and Founder of the Why Meat Co. about how appliances can help beat the cost of living and provide simple money-saving meals that Aussies can make at home.

Produced By: Aryana Mohmood

Featured In Story: Emma White, Food Technologist and Founder of the Why Meat Co.

First aired on The Wire, Friday 21 July 2023

The post The secret to affordable meals providing relief amid soaring energy prices appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.

Today a new book about medicinal bush called Wardlada Mardinidhi  was launched in Port Lincoln, South Australia.

Written by Galinyala Barngarla woman Evelyn Walker and Professor Ghilad Zuckermann, the book gives the Barngarla community another resource to know about native plants in the Barngarla language .

The Wires Eduardo Jordan spoke with Evelyn Walker to find out more

Image: Image of farm in South Australia, Image courtesy Cloudfront

Produced By: Eduardo Jordan

Featured In Story: Galinyala Barngarla woman, Evelyn Walker

First aired on The Wire, Friday 21 July 2023

The post Book about medicinal bush launched to learn more about Barngarla appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.

This week, the International Congress of Genetics and Genomics kicked off in Melbourne to discuss how genomics can help our health.

A new national centre called the Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics, (ALIGN), was also launched this week bringing benefits of genomics medicine to First Nations Australians.

With different genomics projects, scientific and  First Nations communities will have a deeper insight into common diseases like diabetes and cancer.

The Wires Isaac Brogan asked Lead of ALIGN and Professor of Indigenous Genomics at the Australian National University, Alex Brown about the work ALIGN will do

Image: Image courtesy of Pixabay: Komono

Produced By: Isaac Brogan

Featured In Story: Alex Brown Lead of ALIGN and Professor of Indigenous Genomics at the Australian National University, and

First aired on The Wire, Thursday 20 July 2023

The post Putting genomics under the microscope with international congress appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.

Australia has one of the worlds highest rates of deforestation.

Less than 5% of native vegetation remains on roadsides and private properties in South Australias York Peninsula, according to a new study.

In a bid to boost conservation in agricultural landscapes, researchers are calling for drastic changes to land management strategies to retain native ecosystems and prevent biodiversity loss. The study, between university of South Australia and Kangaroo Island Research Station frames a lens on empowering collaboration between farmers and regional communities by identifying barriers that obstruct preservation.

Image: Image courtesy of: Wikimedia Commons Jordan Condon

Produced By: Emma Wotzke

Featured In Story: Bianca Amato University of South Australia Researcher and PhD student , and

First aired on The Wire, Thursday 20 July 2023

The post Collaboration with farmers key in conserving native ecosystems in agricultural landscapes appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.

We won it for our grandparents, an echo of Bungarla Elder, Dawn Taylors sentiment, following the outcome of a six-year fight for Traditional Owners on SAs Eyre Peninsula.

What has been described as a David and Goliath case reached a victorious peak for Barngarla people with the Federal Court in Adelaide ruling in their favour, overturning the federal governments decision to build a nuclear waste dump near Kimba.

As reported by the Guardian, justice Natalie Charlesworth said the court would uphold an application by the Barngarla Determination Aboriginal Corporation due to apprehended bias and pre-judgement by former Coalition resources minister Keith Pitt.

So, what does this victory mean for Barngarla people?

Image: Image courtesy of BDAC

Produced By: Emma Wotzke

Featured In Story: Aunty Dawn Taylor respected Bungarla Elder , Dave Sweeney Australian Conservation Foundation Nuclear Policy Analyst , and

First aired on The Wire, Thursday 20 July 2023

The post Traditional Owners rejoice as court overturns plan for Kimba nuclear waste dump appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.

The Diversity in STEM Review is an annual report recommending ways the government can support women to feel more accepted and comfortable in STEM related careers.

One group who has contributed to this report is Girl Geek Academy, which encourages girls and women of all ages to recognise their importance in the world of STEM. They conducted their own research for the report.

The Wires contributor from RTRFM Fiona Bartholomaeus asked Girl Geek Academy CEO and founding member Sarah Moran, what inspired her to create the organisation?

Image: Image courtesy of Unsplash: ThisisEngineering RAEng

Produced By: Fiona Bartholomaeus

Featured In Story: Sarah Moran Girl Geek Academy CEO and founding member , and

First aired on The Wire, Thursday 20 July 2023

The post Time for action: empowering women in STEM appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.

Punk band the Painters and Dockers front man Paulie Stewart has lived a life of jagged contrast.

The brother of East Timor Balibo 5  Channel 7 sound recordist Tony Stewart, the deep injustice felt by the callous treatment by then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam at the time of the event has never left younger brother Paul.

Paulie joined the band he still tours with but along the way also became a journalist, met Bill Clinton, got Keith Richards to sing There Was a Redback on the Toilet Seat,  supports an order of Nuns in East Timor (whom he regularly visits), was a friend of Father Bob and most recently almost died of a diseased liver, whereupon he wrote his memoir All the Rage.

The Painters and Dockers were a band with an edgy reputation from the 70s on and now they have clocked up 40 years and are on an anniversary tour.  They will be at the Factory Theatre 29th July.

Image: Image: Supplied Melbourne Books

Produced By: Roderick Chambers

Featured In Story: Paulie Stewart Author, Musician, Journalist

First aired on The Wire, Wednesday 19 July 2023

The post All the rage Paulie Stewart appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.

In an unprecedented coup of access to any Monarch, Karin af Klintberg assembled a documentary on King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.  He was the youngest monarch to ascend a throne at age 27 over 50 years ago.

Director and creator Karin af Klintberg had sent thousands of emails to finally spend many hours with the King in interviews over an extensive 2 year period.  Gustaf did not like much of the constant photography and public engagements that a King had to endure, and was regarded as somewhat reclusive, so the achievement of this film is unlikely to be surpassed.

The King [Kungen] is part of the Scandinavian Film Festival starting today.

Image: Image: Supplied King Carl XVI Gustaf with Karin af Klintberg

Produced By: Roderick Chambers

Featured In Story: Karin af Klintberg Director The King

First aired on The Wire, Tuesday 18 July 2023

The post Stunning documentary on the Swedish King appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.

Opening the Scandinavian film festival, Gothenberg Festival winner Let the River Flow follows the story of a Smi girl drawn into a protest in Norway 40 years ago.

Indigenous Smi people wanted to preserve a nomadic way of life that fitted in with the seasons and followed the Reindeer.  The Government down in Oslo however had plans for an essential river that would be dammed and the country lost to the Smi.

Director and creator Ole Giver found that in the course of making the movie that in fact he too had Smi heritage

Image: Image: Supplied Ole Giver

Produced By: Roderick Chambers

Featured In Story: Ole Giver Director Let the River Flow

First aired on The Wire, Wednesday 19 July 2023

The post Indigenous Smi fight for the river appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.

Lobbying groups are part of the democratic prosses in this country, yet the rules surrounding how they operate are vague at best. Lobby groups will have a more public presence this year leading up to the voice referendum, with multiple organisations on both sides ramping up their campaigns.

Lobbying is usually done behind closed doors, so this more public showing of lobbying is a good time to see how much sway Lobbyists have in parliament and what happens when they overstep their boundaries.

Image: Image: Shutterstock: inspiring.team

Produced By: Dominic Giles

Featured In Story: Dr Lindy Edwards, Researcher of Australian politics specialising in Political Lobbying and Political Economy UNSW

First aired on The Wire, Wednesday 19 July 2023

The post Lobbying in Australia appeared first on Fraser Coast FM 107.5.