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After a century of Monday to Friday, could the 4-day week finally be coming to Australia?

<div class="theconversation-article-body">The reality of shorter working hours could be one step closer for many Australians, pending the outcome of the federal election. The Greens, who could control crucial cross bench votes in a hung parliament, have announced plans for a <a href="https://greens.org.au/news/media-release/greens-launch-4-day-work-week-election-policy">four-day</a> working week, with no loss of pay. They say the policy would alleviate stress and burn out, and increase women’s participation in the workforce. Earning the same money for fewer hours would appeal to most workers. But is it too good to be true? Could it really be rolled out cost free to all workplaces, especially to “client facing” companies and service providers? Or does research suggest the Greens could be onto something? <h2>The Greens’ plan</h2> The Greens’ policy would involve a new National Institute for the Four Day Work Week and a test case through the Fair Work Commission. A series of national trials would be set up in a number of different industries, whereby workers would work 80% of their normal hours, while maintaining 100% of their pay. According to Greens Senator Barbara Pocock, it’s a win-win for everyone: <blockquote> It can increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, improve recruitment and retention and give employees more time to manage their home life. This change will allow workers to create a working week that works for them. </blockquote> <h2>The 100:80:100 model</h2> The four-day work week being proposed in this instance is commonly regarded as the 100:80:100 model. It delivers 100% of the pay, for 80% of the hours, in <a href="https://www.4dayweek.com/news-posts/100-80-100-rule">return</a> for maintaining 100% of productivity. This is unlike other forms of shorter working weeks, which compress five days’ worth of work into four longer days. This obviously disadvantages some employees. Recent <a href="https://figshare.swinburne.edu.au/articles/report/Emerging_Four_Day_Work_Week_Trends_in_Australia_New_insights_based_on_interviews_with_Australian_firms_who_have_already_adopted_4DWW_arrangements_Preview_report_/26282311?file=47647063">research</a> conducted by Swinburne University of Technology involved interviews with ten Australian firms that have already adopted the 100:80:100 model. They were a mixture of small and medium sized private sector businesses, including management consulting firms, a shipping and logistics company, and recruitment and marketing agencies. The research underlined the potential for a range of positive outcomes for both employers and employees. Workers reported having better work-life balance, more time to complete “life administration” tasks, and more time to invest in hobbies, exercise, wellness and self-care. Bosses cited productivity gains, reduced sick days, and significant improvements in recruitment and retention rates. However, the 100:80:100 model is viewed with scepticism in some quarters. There is still doubt that productivity and output would be maintained, or in some cases improved, when workers are working one day fewer per week. Also, there could be costs associated with the implementation of this work model for front-line roles, such as retail, schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Additional workers may need to be hired, at extra expense, to cover the hours dropped by the existing workforce. <h2>100 years of working 5 days a week</h2> The year 2026 will mark the 100th anniversary of the five-day work week. It was car maker Henry Ford who <a href="https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/henry-fords-five-day-week/">reduced</a> the working week in the United States from six days to five. Other sectors and countries followed suit. This was at a time when the average life expectancy of Australian workers was just 55 and households typically only had one bread-winner. Despite the time saved by the many technological breakthroughs in the past 100 years – from the photocopier, desktop computer and fax machine, to the internet, mobile phones and AI – the average Australian is now <a href="https://futurework.org.au/report/taking-up-the-right-to-disconnect-unsatisfactory-working-hours-and-unpaid-overtime/">working longer hours</a> in paid and unpaid labour than ever before. The Greens point out Australian society is changing. More women and carers are either in the workforce or would be encouraged into the workforce by more flexible arrangements: <blockquote> yet we are constrained by archaic labour laws that see the fruits of our efforts swallowed up in profits for bosses and shareholders. </blockquote> The role of generative AI technologies in the workplace may also deliver benefits to workers. Separate Swinburne <a href="https://figshare.swinburne.edu.au/articles/report/Generative_AI_at_work_Empowering_employee_mental_wellbeing/27252948">research</a> has revealed an increasing expectation among workers that they will receive a share in the time saved by future technologies in the form of improved work-life balance and wellbeing gains. <h2>Time to enter the 21st century</h2> Earlier this year, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2025/jan/27/two-hundred-uk-companies-sign-up-for-permanent-four-day-working-week">200 UK companies</a> signed up to the 100:80:100 model, as part of a campaign to “reinvent Britain’s working week”. Large scale trials are also underway in <a href="https://4dayweek.io/country/canada">Canada</a> and several <a href="https://www.euronews.com/next/2024/02/02/the-four-day-week-which-countries-have-embraced-it-and-how-s-it-going-so-far">European</a> countries. The global interest in a shorter working week is not surprising, and has likely been fuelled by the COVID pandemic, which has caused workers and employers to re-imagine their working lives. If the Greens are in a position to leverage any balance of power after the coming election, it could be Australia’s turn to recognise the conventional five-day working week is no longer fit for purpose.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/252379/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/john-l-hopkins-255434">John L. Hopkins</a>, Associate Professor of Management, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/after-a-century-of-monday-to-friday-could-the-4-day-week-finally-be-coming-to-australia-252379">original article</a>. </div>

Money & Banking

Devastated mum warns of flu dangers after losing 11-week-old son

A heartbroken mother is pleading with Australians to get vaccinated against the flu this season after losing her 11-week-old son to the virus. Samantha Miller, 37, from Bathurst, NSW, was in the hospital battling her own illness when she received a devastating phone call – her infant son had also fallen ill. By the time he reached the hospital, it was too late. “I came down quite ill, so I ended up in hospital, and then we got a phone call saying he’d been brought into hospital not breathing, and we found out that he’d passed away,” Ms Miller told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/mothers-harrowing-warning-as-11-weekold-son-dies/news-story/9a453f35136ec6ec0085e10392fd5163" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au.</a> It has been 13 years since her son’s tragic death, but the pain remains fresh. Now, she is using her heartbreaking experience to encourage others to get vaccinated against the flu. “It took a little while to get some autopsy results, but it came back with bronchial pneumonia caused by H1N1 swine flu,” Ms Miller said, describing the loss as an unimaginable shock. Her son had been seen by a paediatrician the day before his death and had shown no serious signs of illness beyond a runny nose. A photo from the night before, showing the baby peacefully asleep on his grandfather’s chest, still haunts her. “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my entire life. I would not wish it on anybody … it’s been 13 years and it hurts as if it was yesterday,” she said. Determined to prevent other families from suffering the same heartbreak, Ms Miller is now an advocate for flu vaccinations. “I know what it’s like to lose a child to influenza, and vaccination can help prevent other families from going through what we have been through for the past 13 years,” she said. She believes that there is a lack of education about the importance of vaccinations and the dangers of influenza, leading to misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. “Why are some people pushing for anti-vaccination when the numbers are there? They need to look at the data and get a vaccination. I mean, it’s easy enough … take ten minutes out of your life to get the vaccination,” she urged. Ms Miller also highlighted the strain that preventable illnesses place on the already overwhelmed healthcare system. “Anyone who ends up in hospital is putting a strain on the health services that are already under strain,” she said. With flu season approaching, her message is clear: vaccination saves lives. She hopes that by sharing her story, she can help prevent other families from experiencing the same devastating loss. Images: Courtesy of Samantha Miller

Caring

Beloved radio star dies one week after retiring

Melbourne radio host Philip Brady OAM has died at the age of 85, just one week after he announced he was retiring from radio after nearly 67 years. The 3AW star was diagnosed with cancer on December 5, sharing his diagnosis with close friends and keeping it private from the public. On Tuesday morning, 3AW host Tom Elliott announced Brady's passing and revealed he had been informed of his cancer diagnosis late last year. “Very early this morning, Philip Brady died." “He said he was riddled with cancer and didn’t expect to last too long, so for me, this isn’t a surprise,” he said. “But it is very sad because I don’t think we’ll see the likes of Philip Brady again.” Brady's career 3AW began in the 1970s where he was the weekend music man and in 1990 he began hosting Remember When with Bruce Mansfield. He hosted his final episode of the Remember When radio show on 3AW on January 12, before announcing his retirement from the network on February 2. 3AW station manager Stephen Beers has paid tribute to Brady, saying that he was a “great friend to many, truly loving his work on air and helping so many listeners and colleagues with advice, companionship and friendship”. “Phil will be greatly missed by all at 3AW,” he added. Image: 3AW

Caring

Youngest Bali Nine member arrested weeks after return home

Matthew Norman, the youngest Bali Nine member has been arrested in NSW, just weeks after returning home from Indonesian jail. The 38-year-old spent 19 years behind bars in Indonesia, and was arrested in NSW on an outstanding warrant at 10.30am on Monday, according NSW Police. Norman was taken to Waverley Police Station and refused bail to appear before Waverley Local Court, who released him on bail following his court hearing. He will remain free from custody until his next court hearing on February 25. The warrant was in relation to the 2005 theft of a white Ford Laser hatchback, which Norman allegedly drove around for less than an hour before he was stopped by police, according to the Daily Telegraph. Norman faced court over the car theft and then left the country while on bail, the publication reported. It was the same year that he attempted to smuggle 334g of heroin into Bali in a suitcase while he was just 18 years old. He had arrived back in Australia alongside other surviving Bali Nine members Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen and Michael Czugaj, on December 20, 2024. Image: Seven

Legal

The astonishing reason Olympians are returning their Paris medals

More than 100 medal-winning Olympic athletes are returning the medals they won at the 2024 Paris Games after claiming they have massively deteriorated. Despite being less than six months on from the Games, many of the medals have lost their lustre and appear much worse for wear, prompting many athletes to turn in the medals for a replacement. One such medallist is Aussie BMX bronze medallist Natalya Diehm, who took to social media almost immediately after the Games to show just how tarnished the medal had become in a short period of time. “So once I won bronze, I had so many people ask to see a photo of it or that I should post a video on my stories so that everybody could see it and I didn’t because this literally started to happen day one of me having the medal and I guess I just wanted to keep it quiet for a little,” Diehm said in a video in October. “It’s unfortunate because the original bronze colour is so pretty." <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA12gnkPrrL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA12gnkPrrL/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Natalya Diehm OLY (@_natalyadiehm)</a> </div> </blockquote> “I’m not sure why this has happened to mine. I haven’t taken it out partying, it’s not from people touching it so much because this is a comparison to what a bronze medal should look like." “Mine is one of the worst to come out of the Olympics this year. I’m hoping I can get it fixed or replaced. But this is it up and close.” Nine News reported that at least six more Aussie athletes aren't happy with the state of their medals, with French website <a title="www.lalettre.fr" href="https://www.lalettre.fr/fr/action-publique_operateurs-de-l-etat/2025/01/13/comment-la-monnaie-de-paris-est-tombee-du-podium-avec-ses-medailles-olympiques,110359982-gel">La Lettre </a>finding that there have been more than 100 replacement requests from Olympic and Paralympic athletes from across the world. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) told AFP that the damaged medals are set to be replaced with identical models. “The Paris 2024 Olympic Games Organising Committee is working closely with the Monnaie de Paris (the French state mint), the institution responsible for the manufacture and quality control of the medals, to assess any complaints about the medals and to understand the circumstances and cause of any damage,” the IOC said. “Defective medals will be systematically replaced by the Monnaie de Paris and engraved identically. The replacement process should begin in the coming weeks.” Image credits: Instagram

Travel Trouble

Billionaire fashion icon dies in freak accident

Billionaire fashion icon Isak Andic has passed away in a freak accident aged 71. The founder of Spanish clothing retailer Mango, one of Europe's largest fashion groups, was hiking with his family members in the Montserrat caves near Barcelona when he fell 100 metres from a cliff. Police confirmed his death after they were called at around 1pm local time on Saturday. Local media outlet El Pais reported that a helicopter and specialised mountain unit were sent to the scene. "Isak has been an example for all of us. He dedicated his life to Mango, leaving an indelible mark thanks to his strategic vision, his inspiring leadership and his unwavering commitment to values that he himself imbued in our company, Mango’s CEO, Toni Ruiz, said in a statement. “His legacy reflects the achievements of a business project marked by success, and also by his human quality, his proximity and the care and affection that he always had and at all times conveyed to the entire organisation. “His departure leaves a huge void but all of us are, in some way, his legacy and the testimony of his achievements,” he added. “It is up to us … to ensure that Mango continues to be the project that Isak was ambitious and proud of.” "In these extremely difficult times we share the pain of the family as if it were our own," he concluded in the statement posted onto the fashion brand's website. Andic was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1953 before emigrating to Spain with his family in 1969. He created the fashion line with the help of his brother, Nahman, in Barcelona in 1984, with the brand now operating almost 3,000 outlets in 120 countries. Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, paid tribute to the businessman on social media, saying “My condolences to the family of Isak Andic, founder of Mango, on his tragic death in an accident in the Salnitre de Collbató caves." “All my love and recognition for your great work and business vision, which has turned this Spanish firm into a world leader in fashion." Image: Mango Website

Caring

"Indescribable whirlwind": Michael Jackson's only daughter shares happy news

After months of speculation, Paris Jackson has confirmed the news of her engagement to her music producer boyfriend Justin Long. Paris, the only daughter of late pop sensation Michael Jackson, finally shared the happy news of the proposal in a series of photos posted to Instagram celebrating her partner's birthday. “Happy birthday my sweet blue. doing life with you these last years has been an indescribable whirlwind and i couldn’t dream of anyone more perfect for me to do it all with,” she wrote in the caption. “Thank you for letting me be yours. I love you.” Jackson shared a series of loved-up images of the couple, with one photo showing Long down on one knee as he popped the question, and another image of her fiancé placing her engagement ring on her finger. The bride-to-be was first spotted rocking the jewellery in September but did not address headlines about the relationship milestone at the time. Jackson and Long are believed to have been together since 2022. Paris is one of Jackson’s three children — he welcomed Prince and Paris in 1997 and 1998 with ex-wife Debbie Rowe. His youngest Bigi Jackson (born Prince Michael Jackson II and known earlier in life as Blanket) was born in 2002 with the help of a surrogate. Image credits: Instagram

Relationships

"Just words on a piece of paper": Olympian's blunt response to lifetime ban

Olympic cycling medallist Matthew Richardson has responded to the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/olympian-slapped-with-lifetime-ban-after-defection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lifetime ban</a> he received as "just words on a piece of paper" that "don't carry much weight for me" following his defection to ride for Great Britain. The 25-year-old Olympian received a lot of backlash after his post-Paris defection where he won three medals for Australia despite knowing that he was going to switch to represent his country of birth. While Richardson was proud of his decision, he did express a bit of "shock" at the ban. "I didn't know it was coming," Richardson said during a UCI Track Champions League press conference. "I found it quite interesting. I guess they were just keen to get one last, final blow, one last, final word. "But ultimately, I had left three months ago. I'm not sure where the confusion ... has come from, but I thought it was pretty obvious that, by wanting to ride for GB for the rest of my career, that would mean I didn't want to ride for Australia for the rest of my career. It's almost like you leave your job, and three months later, they go, 'Well, you're fired!'. "It's just words on a piece of paper, really, and they don't really carry much weight for me." In a statement on Monday, AusCycling said that it had investigated the prospect of a two-year non-compete clause being enforced, but discovered it was "legally unenforceable". "The UCI can't enforce regulations on me that I haven't signed for," Richardson said. "That was just words on a piece of paper that, again, don't hold any weight. "As they also said in that review, they're going to have to go back and have a look at that clause, which basically just admits that they're going to have to change it or get rid of it, or whatever, because it clearly has no meaning." Richardson was born in Maidstone, Kent but moved to Perth at the age of nine. He took up cycling with Perth's Midland Cycling Club and not long after was riding with Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS). Richardson brushed aside claims that he had threatened AusCycling’s intellectual property by asking to take his bike with him after the Paris Olympics, and said he'd "always been respectful to AusCycling" as well as "thankful for everything" the organisation had done for him. "I really did think I repaid them with all the results, you know — the world championship, the three Olympic medals that I returned," Richardson added. "Unfortunately, noise was created around the issue, but I sleep well at night knowing that noise didn't come from myself. "Hopefully in the years to come, myself and AusCycling can come to some sort of understanding. "But for now, there we go. They've had their final word. "Hopefully we can just put it to bed and just enjoy riding in circles." Images: Instagram

Legal

Four ways to tell the designer fashion items worth investing in from the ones that aren’t

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/naomi-braithwaite-156824">Naomi Braithwaite</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/nottingham-trent-university-1338">Nottingham Trent University</a> Whether it’s aspiring to the “quiet luxury” or <a href="https://theconversation.com/new-clean-girl-and-old-money-aesthetics-on-tiktok-make-the-same-old-link-between-hygiene-and-class-208566">“old money” looks</a> taking over TikTok, or cringing at the “<a href="https://theconversation.com/far-from-the-ludicrously-capacious-what-the-fashion-of-succession-tells-us-about-the-show-and-about-society-202744">ludicrously capacious bag</a>” scene in the last season of Succession, designer clothes and accessories have been a hot topic in 2023. But with continued sales growth in <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/state-of-fashion">designer fashion</a>, and concerns about shopping more <a href="https://fashionunited.uk/news/retail/consumers-want-to-shop-sustainably-what-are-the-opportunities-for-brands/2022102465829">sustainably</a>, it’s worth considering investing your money in products that will last longer. Sales in luxury fashion have increased significantly since the pandemic. <a href="https://www.just-style.com/features/covid-two-years-on-expert-analysis-of-top-10-global-apparel-companies/?cf-view">Louis Vuitton</a>, for example, has increased its sales from 2019. And British luxury brand, Burberry, reported sales growth to be <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/jul/16/burberry-sales-return-to-pre-pandemic-levels-as-younger-shoppers-splash-out">86% higher</a> in the year following the pandemic (though there has been <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/burberry-shares-take-10-hit-on-warning-of-slump-in-luxury-demand-13009401">another dip in sales</a> more recently). The <a href="https://www.limitlessmanufacturinggroup.com/blog/the-rise-of-athleisure-how-activewear-became-mainstream-fashion">rise of athleisure</a> in fashion and designer collaborations such as <a href="https://www.manoloblahnik.com/gb/the-latest/post/manolo-blahnik-for-birkenstock">Manolo Blahnik for Birkenstock</a>, <a href="https://www.gucci.com/uk/en_gb/st/capsule/adidas-gucci">Gucci x Adidas</a> and <a href="https://uk.burberry.com/c/collaborations-supreme-burberry/">Burberry x Supreme</a> have made luxury more available. But prices are still high, so how can you know whether a purchase will stand the test of time and become an investment piece or a fashion flop? Here are four key factors to consider when making a designer purchase. <h2>1. Resale value</h2> An expensive purchase price may not guarantee that your product will hold its value. A key factor to consider is what the resale value of your purchase will be, as this will indicate the item’s investment potential. A fashion investment piece tends to be a luxury product with a higher price ticket. Prices of luxury fashion have increased over the last decade. Chanel bags, for example, have <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/walterloeb/2022/02/21/luxury-brand-prices-rise-sharply--will-it-cut-demand/">almost doubled</a> in price. Chanel’s iconic medium flap bag has increased from <a href="https://luxecollectivefashion.com/blogs/communique/your-expert-guide-to-the-chanel-price-increases-2023">£7,550 in 2022 to £8,530 in 2023</a> and is considered to be one of the most covetable designs in the <a href="https://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/best-luxury-handbags-resale-value/slide2">resale market</a>. Similarly, Hermès’ famous Birkin and Kelly bag designs, renowned for their quality, are <a href="https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/hermes-bag-review-2022-birkin-bag-and-hermes-kelly-bag-remain-most-popular">undoubtedly investment pieces</a>. Despite the high price ticket, <a href="https://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/birkin-bag-prices/slide2">Birkin bags are in demand</a>. They are the most collectable and classic of designer bags, with an average retail price of USD$10,000 (£8,237), <a href="https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3211640/why-hermes-birkin-bag-such-good-investment-according-experts-other-luxury-handbags-might-not-be">which can double in the resale market</a>. Luxury fashion <a href="https://www.pursebop.com/new-app-calculates-the-resale-value-of-designer-handbags/">resaler Vestiaire</a>, along with online marketplaces like eBay, are useful sources for researching and calculating what the value of your purchase will be in the resale market. While designer bags can hold their value post-purchase, <a href="https://www.yourmoney.com/investing/can-clothing-ever-be-considered-an-investment/">clothes can be less straightforward</a> and will depend on the other following factors. <h2>2. Quality and style</h2> A <a href="https://www.voguebusiness.com/fashion/marketing-at-scale-explaining-luxurys-new-brand-identifiers">2023 report</a> has stated that the overt use of logos in recent years, from brands such as <a href="https://www.surefront.com/blog/is-logomania-really-over">Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton</a>, has been replaced by an interest in quiet luxury. Quiet luxury means <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/quiet-luxury-explained-which-brands-will-benefit-2023-4?r=US&IR=T">more simplistic, classic and timeless styling</a>. The focus on exquisite fabrics and design gives a sense of fashion that is not disposable and durable. A cashmere sweater from <a href="https://uk.loropiana.com/en/c/woman/knitwear">Lorna Piana</a> may cost over £1,700 but its quality and classic styling will ensure it’s an investment piece that transcends fashion trend cycle. Consideration of fabrics, styling and design aesthetic are all key in ensuring your fashion investment has longevity. <h2>3. Brand authenticity</h2> <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303917660_The_Role_of_Heritage_and_Authenticity_in_the_Value_Creation_of_Fashion_Brand">Heritage and authenticity</a> can secure the value of fashion purchases. Brands that have a strong heritage – that have been around and respected for a long time – are better investment pieces, <a href="https://wwd.com/fashion-news/designer-luxury/luxury-fashion-heritage-chanel-dior1234792018-1234792018/">particularly in the categories of watches, jewellery and handbags</a>. Rolex watches are renowned as investment pieces, with models that are most rare commanding the higher appreciation values. In the realm of clothing, Burberry’s iconic trench coat – which has remained largely untouched in design terms for over 100 years – has been reported to be a good wardrobe investment by <a href="https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/burberry-trench-coats">Vogue</a>. The trench’s timeless design, alongside its long history, has secured its place as an investment product. However, when it comes to making the purchase it is important to go with <a href="https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/burberry-trench-coat/">Burberry’s original design</a>, rather than the fashion-led versions whose value may diminish as seasonal trends move on. <h2>4. Product endorsement</h2> Celebrity endorsement is a popular brand strategy for increasing the value of fashion products. While it may drive sales, it is important to consider what effect it will have on investment quality. A recent example was when the British pop star <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4089170/">Harry Styles</a> wore the <a href="https://harpersbazaar.com.au/adidas-gucci-collaboration-collection/">luxe Adidas x Gucci Gazelle trainers</a>, during his 2023 tour, resulting in a <a href="https://www.sneakerfreaker.com/news/harry-styles-gucci-adidas-gazelle-samba-statistics?page=0">reported 100%</a> increase in sales of the trainer. While sneakers have previously had a bouyant <a href="https://www.fashionbeans.com/article/sneaker-reselling-guide/">resale market</a>, that is now <a href="https://www.voguebusiness.com/fashion/has-the-sneaker-bubble-finally-burst">declining</a>, raising questions as to whether they will continue to be positive investment pieces. Celebrities may create hype – but their endorsement does not always ensure the longevity of a product’s value. In 1999, <a href="https://hypebae.com/2018/10/dior-saddle-bag-history-john-galliano">Dior’s saddle bag</a> was featured on US TV series <a href="https://www.hbo.com/sex-and-the-city">Sex and the City</a>, securing its place as an <a href="https://garage.vice.com/en_us/article/mbxjmn/dior-saddle-bag-sex-in-the-city">iconic designer bag</a>. While this increased its value and desirability at the time, the bag eventually faded from view, until 2018, when Maria Grazia Chiuri, Dior’s current design director, relaunched it. This resulted in a frenzy of interest <a href="https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/a42118540/dior-saddle-bag/">in the original Galliano designs</a>. Endorsement creates hype and desirability, but occasionally it can also create a classic too. But this takes time, and it’s best to consider other factors including brand authenticity, quality and style when planning an investment purchase. Also, value does not always have to have a price attributed to it. In the world of designer fashion, it is important not to overlook the significance of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2023/oct/13/fashion-thats-begging-for-love-designers-want-to-create-meaningful-stuff">emotional durability</a> of our purchases and how that can ensure an enduring value and longevity. <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/naomi-braithwaite-156824">Naomi Braithwaite</a>, Associate Professor in Fashion Marketing and Branding, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/nottingham-trent-university-1338">Nottingham Trent University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/four-ways-to-tell-the-designer-fashion-items-worth-investing-in-from-the-ones-that-arent-215831">original article</a>. </div>

Beauty & Style

Radio host dies weeks after cancer diagnosis

Beloved radio host Rob Dempsey has passed away just weeks after being diagnosed with cancer. Rob Dempsey, host of American Christian radio show HisAir, revealed his diagnosed with bladder cancer in a Facebook post just eight days before his death. After being hospitalised for emergency surgery related to his cancer, Dempsey went in to cardiac arrest and could not be revived. News of Dempsey's death was also shared on His Radio's Rob and Lizz in the Morning show, with the hosts saying, "He always had us laughing." "His finger prints are all over this place. He was not just a boss, he was a leader, an encourager. He made such an impact to the in the community and to Greenville." They added, "We lost him but heaven gained such an incredible person." Just days before his death, Dempsey shared on his Instagram page that he was in hospital for surgery on his left kidney. "It's so overcrowded at this hospital that will be in hallway. Nothing you can do, but the care from these nurses and doctors are wonderful." he wrote. When he shared news of his cancer diagnosis on Facebook, he said doctors told him it was ''aggressive" but he was "at peace today knowing God is in control". "A big thank you to all who have been praying for me. I saw the report today. I have bladder cancer and it looks aggressive," he said. "Thankfully I'm at peace today knowing God is in control. The days ahead will be tough and that's ok. I am determined to be a dad there for his kids." "I'm determined to be that grandpa who will watch them grow up, graduate and get married. I want to grow old with my wife who has been a rock through all of this junk." He added, "I've watched a few videos of people who have survived this and even have new bladders! Things look hopeful." The radio star is survived by his wife, kids and grandchildren. Image credits: Instagram <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 16px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Fira Sans', 'Droid Sans', 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; caret-color: #333333; color: #333333;"> <p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 16px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 18px; line-height: 28px; font-family: 'Proxima Nova', system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Fira Sans', 'Droid Sans', 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; caret-color: #333333; color: #333333;">

Caring

Jessica Rowe stuns in runway debut

Jessica Rowe has stunned on the runway for the L'Oréal Paris Walk Your Worth show in Sydney on Thursday. The TV presenter, 54, was the picture of elegance as she strutted her stuff at the outdoor show in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. She looked stunning in a white gown adorned with floral sequins and beading. She paired it with some droplet silver earrings, and black heels showing off her toned legs through the dress' split. This is not the first time she has made waves in the fashion world, as she had previous stints in modelling for David Jones and has always been in the spotlight for her unique style. She re-posted a few clips to her Instagram stories, captioning one of them with: "Dream come true!". Her daughter's Allegra and Giselle attended the event and proudly filmed their mum working her magic on the runway as she beamed and waved at them when she spotted them in the front row. Rowe's modelling career inspired Allegra's own passion for the industry and helped her break into modelling. Allegra made her Australian Fashion Week debut in May, with Jessica proudly watching on. In an interview with Stellar Magazine, Allegra admitted that her mum helped her get a foot in the door of the competitive industry. "I've always had a dream of modelling. I've loved fashion and styling different pieces from a very young age, including some from my mum's wardrobe," she told the publication. "When I was in Year 9, I became really curious and interested, so Mum got in touch with her old agency from when she did modelling when she was around my age." Allegra's Channel Nine news presenter father Peter also revealed that he is proud to see his daughter fight for her dream. "She knows modelling can be tough on many fronts, but no matter what, she told me she wants to give it a red hot go – and that attitude makes me proud," he said. Images: L'Oréal Paris/ Instagram

Beauty & Style

From cheeky thrill to grande dame – the Moulin Rouge celebrates 135 years of scandal and success

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/will-visconti-805914">Will Visconti</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> When the Moulin Rouge first opened on October 6 1889, it drew audiences from across classes and countries. The Moulin offered an array of fin-de-siècle (end-of-the-century) entertainments to Paris locals and visitors. Located in <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mont/hd_mont.htm">Montmartre</a>, its name, the “red windmill”, alluded to Montmartre’s history as a rural idyll. The neighbourhood was also associated with artistic bohemia, crime, and revolutionary spirit. This setting added a certain thrill for bourgeois audiences. From irreverent newcomer to a French institution, the Moulin Rouge has survived scandal, an inferno and found new ways to connect with audiences. <h2>Red and electric</h2> In 1889, the Moulin Rouge was not the only red landmark to open in Paris. The <a href="https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/news/history-and-culture/133-years-and-1083-feet#:%7E:text=The%20Tower%20would%20open%20to,Eiffel%20workshop%20in%20Levallois%2DPerret.">Eiffel Tower</a>, built as part of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/worlds-fair#ref1122093">Universal Exhibition</a> and originally painted red, had opened earlier that same year. What set them apart, however, was their popularity. The Moulin Rouge was an instant hit, capitalising on the global popularity of a dance called <a href="https://www.moulinrouge.fr/en/french-cancan-2/">the cancan</a>. Dancers like Moulin Rouge headliner <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_de_la_danseuse_de_cancan_Louise_Weber_(1866-1929)_dite_la_Goulue_(%C3%A0_gauche)_et_de_Grille_d%27%C3%A9gout_(%C3%A0_droite),_da,_PH41845.jpg">La Goulue </a>(“The Glutton”, real name Louise Weber) were seen as more appropriate emblems for the city than the Tower, which many <a href="https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/news/130-years/artists-who-protested-eiffel-tower">considered an eyesore</a>. In an illustration from Le Courrier Français newspaper, a dancer modelled on a photograph of La Goulue holds her leg aloft, flashing her underwear with the caption “<a href="https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1070090h/f1.image">Greetings to the provinces and abroad!</a>”. Every aspect of the Moulin spoke to the zeitgeist, from its design to the performances, the use of electric lights that adorned its façade, and its advertising. Its managers, the impresario team of <a href="https://www.moulinrouge.fr/en/the-great-periods/#:%7E:text=The%20masters%20of%20the%20place%20were%20Joseph%20Oller%20and%20Charles%20Zidler">Joseph Oller and Charles Harold Zidler</a>, had a string of successful venues and businesses to their names. They recognised the importance of modern marketing, using print media, publicity photographs, and <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cheret_Bal_au_moulin_rouge.jpg">posters</a> to spark public interest. Among the most iconic images of the Moulin is <a href="http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.339766">Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s 1891 poster</a>. At its centre is La Goulue, kicking her legs amid swirling petticoats. <h2>She certainly can cancan</h2> Found primarily in working-class dance halls from as early as the 1820s, the cancan became a staple of popular entertainment the world over. Part of the dance’s thrill lay in the dancers’ <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_Goulue_y_Valentin_le_D%C3%A9soss%C3%A9_bailando_en_el_Moulin_Rouge,_Th%C3%A9ophile_Steinlen.jpg">freedom of movement</a> and titillation of spectators, as well as its anti-establishment energy. Women used the cancan to thumb their nose at authority via steps like the coup de cul (“arse flash”) or coup du chapeau (removing men’s hats with a high kick). The cancan was not the only attraction at the Moulin. There were themed spaces, sideshows, and variety performances ranging from belly dancers and conjoined twins to <a href="https://www.weirdhistorian.com/le-petomane/">Le Pétomane</a> (“The Fartomaniac”) who was a flatulist and the highest-paid performer. People watching was equally popular. <h2>Scandals, riots, and royalty</h2> Over the years, the Moulin has been no stranger to controversy. In its early years, it cultivated an air of misbehaviour and featured in pleasure guides for visiting sex tourists. In 1893 it hosted the <a href="https://read.dukeupress.edu/french-historical-studies/article-abstract/33/1/69/9638/The-Art-of-Posing-Nude-Models-Moralists-and-the?redirectedFrom=PDF">Bal des Quat’z’Arts</a> (Four-Arts Ball) held by students from local studios. Accusations of public indecency were made against the models and dancers in attendance, and violent protests followed after the women were arrested. In 1907 the writer Colette appeared onstage at the Moulin in an Egyptian-inspired pantomime with her then-lover, <a href="https://daily.jstor.org/the-cross-dressing-superstar-of-the-belle-epoque/">Missy, the Marquise de Belbeuf</a>. When the act culminated in a passionate kiss, a riot broke out. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7N_dvUptKX8?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Historical footage shows the Moulin Rouge as it was.</figcaption></figure> <h2>Kicking on and on</h2> Over time, the Moulin Rouge shows changed their format to keep pace with public taste, though the cancan remained. The venue hosted revues and operettas, and various stars including Edith Piaf, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli. Famous guests have included British royalty: from Edward VII (while Prince of Wales) to his great-granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, and her son, Prince Edward. Since its opening, the Moulin’s fortunes have waxed and waned. In 1915 the Moulin Rouge <a href="https://archive.nytimes.com/iht-retrospective.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/1915-fire-destroys-moulin-rouge/">burned down</a> but was rebuilt in 1921. Its famous windmill sails <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68895836">fell off overnight</a> earlier this year but were swiftly repaired. In the 1930s, it survived the Depression and rise of cinema (also <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0019186/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4">capturing the attention</a> of <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025520/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3">several filmakers</a>). It also survived the <a href="https://www.thetimes.com/article/i-took-nazis-to-the-moulin-rouge-they-sent-me-to-auschwitz-s3lzxcwwn8q">Nazi occupation</a> of Paris in the 1940s. By the early 1960s, <a href="https://www.moulinrouge.fr/en/the-moulin-rouge/history/the-great-periods/#:%7E:text=Charles%20Trenet-,F%20FOR%20FORMIDABLE,-In%201962%2C%20Jacki">Jacki Clerico</a> was managing the Moulin’s show after his father had revamped the venue as a dinner theatre destination. The younger Clérico oversaw additions like a giant aquarium where dancers swam with snakes, and its now-famous “nude line” – a chorus of topless dancers – in its shows. In 1963, the Moulin Rouge struck upon a winning formula: revues, all named by Clérico with titles beginning with the letter “F” – from Frou Frou to Fantastique and Formidable. Since 1999, the revue Féerie (“Fairy”, also a <a href="https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/383977/Feeries.pdf?sequence=1">French genre</a> of stage extravaganza) has been performed almost without interruption. Ticket sales were boosted thanks to Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0203009/">Moulin Rouge!</a> and more recently <a href="https://moulinrougemusical.com/new-york/home/">Moulin Rouge! The Musical</a>. Since COVID, the Moulin Rouge management have diversified. The windmill’s interior has been <a href="https://news.airbnb.com/the-iconic-moulin-rouge-windmill-reveals-a-secret-room-for-an-overnight-stay-with-airbnb/">rented out via AirBnB</a> and the Moulin’s <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/moulin-rouge-yes-we-can-can">dance troupe</a> has performed on France’s televised New Year’s Eve celebrations. This year, the Moulin Rouge and its dancers were part of the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@saskyacnn/video/7398138810984320288?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7384693687676749320">Paris Olympics celebrations</a>, dancing in heavy rain. Though people have come to appreciate the Eiffel Tower too, the Moulin Rouge can still argue its status as the pinnacle of live entertainment in the French capital: immediately recognisable, internationally visible, and quintessentially Parisian.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/239849/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/will-visconti-805914">Will Visconti</a>, Teacher and researcher, Art History, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-cheeky-thrill-to-grande-dame-the-moulin-rouge-celebrates-135-years-of-scandal-and-success-239849">original article</a>. </div>

International Travel

Supreme Court Justice killed just three weeks after retiring

Former South Australian Supreme Court Justice Malcolm Blue has tragically died, just three weeks after retiring. The 70-year-old had been looking forward to spending quality time with his friends and family after retiring, when he was involved in a tractor accident at a vineyard in Willunga South on Saturday morning. South Australian Police were called to the scene after the accident, where police said he died at the scene from his injuries. After his 13-year role as a Supreme Court judge where he earned the respect of politicians and legal professionals, Blue retired in August, as his family said he had been looking forward to spending more time with his family during his retirement. “We are devastated by Malcolm’s loss. He was a much-loved and loving father, partner and brother, and cherished his family,” his family said in a statement <a href="https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/justice-malcolm-blue-remembered-as-a-great-south-australian-after-death-in-farming-tragedy/news-story/49330193603000f8a0cbf7933b5b7eea?amp" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">to News Corp.</a> “Malcolm was always kind, funny, smart and wonderfully supportive for family, friends and legal colleagues. He was both gentle and brilliant and will be missed terribly." “Having achieved so much during a long and distinguished legal career, Malcolm was looking forward to spending more time with his family on the property." “Malcolm will be deeply missed by his partner Angela, daughters Charlotte, Victoria and Alex, three sisters, along with his extended family, many friends, and colleagues in the legal fraternity.” SA Premier Peter Malinauskas praised Blue’s service to the state at a press conference on Sunday. “Mr Blue was a great South Australian who served his community exceptionally well over a very long period of time,” Malinauskas said. “I’m sure that South Australia will appropriately honour him as someone who’s made a major contribution.” Chief Justice of South Australia Chris Kourakis said Blue’s death was felt across Australia’s judiciary and legal profession, saying, “Justice Blue was a pre-eminent intellect and jurist who selflessly devoted his energy to the work of the court and making justice more accessible to the people of South Australia.” Image credits: 7News

Caring

Outrage as Paralympian gets disqualified for "unfair" reason

Elena Congost, had just finished the T12/B2 run in third place, but was disqualified and had the bronze medal taken from her, for this one simple move. The 36-year-old was running in the vision-impaired category with guide Mia Carol Bruguera. When her guide faltered with a cramp in the final metres before the finish line, Congost instinctively helped him from falling over and let go of the rope that binds them together. This is not allowed within Paralympic rules as all runners must be connected to their guide via a tether. As a result, Japan’s Misato Michishita was elevated to the bronze medal after finishing fourth. In a heartbreaking interview after the race, a devastated Congost said: “It’s unfair, surreal.” “The next athlete was three minutes behind me. It was just a reflex action that any human being would have done – holding on to someone who is falling.” “But that doesn’t mean that there is any kind of benefit or help. In fact, it is clear that I stop dead. “I can’t find any explanation for this. It’s sad because, in addition, I had just been without a scholarship. And I’m not going to get one now. They will leave me out of everything again when I have shown everything I can do. “I have not been disqualified for cheating, but for being a person, for helping someone.” In a separate interview with Spanish outlet Marca, she said that despite being disqualified, she is proud of her actions. “I would like everyone to know that I have not been disqualified for cheating, but rather I have been disqualified for being a person and for an instinct that comes to you when someone is falling and is to help or support them,” she said. “I’m devastated, to be honest, because I had the medal. I’m super proud of everything I’ve done and in the end they disqualify me because 10 metres from the finish line I let go of the rope for a second because a person next to me fell face first to the ground and I grabbed the rope again and we crossed the finish line. “The next athlete is three minutes away from me, so it was a reflex action of any human being to hold on to a person who is falling next to you.” Fans around the world were outraged at the disqualification verdict and have called for officials to overturn it. “Shame on you. Give the medal back to Elena Congost,” one fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Where is the Olympic spirit? Elena Congost was disqualified after running 42km and helping her guide not to fall to the ground. She has lost the bronze medal and her sports scholarship. Disgusting," another wrote. "Give the medal to Elena Congost. This decision ruins the paralympics. How can you be called inclusive if you can’t help a person from falling?” a third added. Image: X

Caring

Paris makes controversial Olympics decision

The mayor of Paris has caused an uproar amongst locals are announcing plans to keep the Olympic rings on the Eiffel Tower indefinitely. In an interview with Ouest-France, Mayor Anne Hidalgo said the iconic landmark will be keeping the Olympic symbol after the conclusion of the summer Games. “The decision is up to me, and I have the agreement of the IOC [International Olympic Committee]. So yes, they [the rings] will stay on the Eiffel Tower,” she said. The giant Olympic rings, measuring 29 meters wide and 15 meters high, were installed on the Eiffel Tower ahead of the Paris Olympics, which began on July 26th, and were set to be dismantled after the Paralympic Games draw to a close on September 8th. However, Hidalgo is pushing to keep them in place permanently, albeit in a lighter version, replacing the current 30-tonne structure. The plan has drawn mixed reactions from Parisians, with many slamming the idea and calling out the "defiling" of the iconic French landmark. “It’s a historic monument, why defile it with rings? It was good for the Olympics, but now it’s over, we can move on. Maybe we should remove them and return the Eiffel Tower to how it was before,” one local told French publication France Bleu. Descendant of the Eiffel Tower designer Gustave Eiffel even chimed in on the debate, as a family statement read, "It does not seem appropriate to us that the Eiffel Tower, which has become the symbol of Paris and the whole of France since its construction 135 years ago, has the symbol of an outside organisation added to it in a permanent way, whatever its prestige." The SOS Paris group, which campaigns to protect Paris's landmarks and environment, added, "The Eiffel Tower has a history of 135 years and surpasses a sports and media event of 17 days," while the chairman of the association Friends of the Champs de Mars, the park around the Eiffel Tower, said the idea "needed to be the subject of a wider consultation". However, some people were in favour of the rings remaining on the Eiffel Tower, as one local told the publication, “The Eiffel Tower is very beautiful, the rings add colour. It’s very nice to see it like this.” Image credits: Aimee Dilger/SOPA Images/Shutterstock Editorial

Travel Trouble

"Just magical": Aussie Olympians return home in triumph

Australia’s Olympians returned home to a heroes' welcome after the most successful Olympic campaign in the nation’s history. Touching down early Wednesday morning, the athletes were greeted with cheers and applause, marking the end of an extraordinary journey from Paris. The first group of Olympians, including gold medal stars pole vaulter Nina Kennedy and boxer Charlie Senior, landed in Perth to an enthusiastic crowd of family, friends and fans. Kennedy, who secured her gold medal in Paris, expressed her joy, stating, "There is one thing on my list of things I always wanted to do was become Olympic champion...No one can take it away from me." Senior, who won bronze, was equally thrilled, saying, “Coming home is the best feeling out of it all." The celebrations continued on the east coast as another plane full of Australian athletes, adorned with "Go Australia" written in green and gold, arrived in Sydney. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese personally welcomed the team, and popstar Jessica Mauboy, along with The Qantas choir, performed to honour the athletes. Among the first to disembark were dual gold medal canoeist Jessica Fox and swimmer Kaylee McKeown, who made history by becoming the first Australian to win four individual Olympic gold medals. Emotional reunions followed, with McKeown embraced by her family and Today host Sarah Abo, and swimmer Ariarne Titmus shedding tears as she reunited with her parents. Titmus, who played a key role in Australia’s success, shared her excitement for the future, saying, "I think the country just revels in the Olympic experience...I'll enjoy that. Forget about something for a while and just spend some time with my friends and family." The athletes, including young talents like 14-year-old skateboarder Arisa Trew and BMX gold medalist Saya Sakakibara, were praised for their incredible performances. Retired Olympic swimmer Giaan Rooney spoke at length on the significance of their achievements, calling the homecoming "monumental" and "magical". "It was just magical. Paris was magical," she said. "Our athletes were incredible. But really I need to tell you, this is enormous because I came home on the charter flight in 2004 after the Athens Olympics, and back then there wasn't social media or anything like that. You didn't understand the enormity of what you had done or what it meant to be an Aussie at that point, until you landed on this charter flight. So for these athletes, this is just going to blow their minds. "Seeing their family, their friends, everyone that's here to support them after what they've done, it's just going to be magical. It was monumental." Australia's medal tally from the Paris Games was nothing short of historic, with 18 golds, 19 silvers and 16 bronzes, making it the country’s most successful Olympics ever. The 18 gold medals surpassed the previous record of 17 from both the 2004 Athens Games and the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. The total of 53 medals also set a record for an away Games, second only to the 58 medals won at the Sydney 2000 Games. Australia’s success spanned across 14 sports, with five athletes defending their Olympic crowns, including sailor Matt Wearn, paddler Jessica Fox, skateboarder Keegan Palmer and swimmers Kaylee McKeown and Ariarne Titmus. As the nation celebrates these incredible achievements, the athletes look forward to a well-deserved break, surrounded by the love and support of their families and fellow Australians. Their remarkable performances in Paris have not only made history but also inspired a new generation of sporting men and women across the country. Images: Today

International Travel

"I am a woman": Boxer launches legal action after gold medal win

Imane Khelif has filed an official complaint over online bullying and harassment she has been subject to throughout the course of the Paris Olympics. The Algerian boxer, who took home the gold medal in the women's competition, has been at the centre of a wave of abuse over her gender, with misinformation circulating over her gender. According to Khelif's lawyer Nabil Boudi, the gold medallist has filed a legal complaint in France for online harassment. “The boxer Imane Khelif has decided to begin a new fight, a fight for justice, dignity and honour,” Boudi said in a statement, saying Khelif had filed the complaint for “aggravated online harassment … to Paris prosecutors”. He added, “The investigation will determine who was behind this misogynist, racist and sexist campaign, but will also have to concern itself with those who fed the online lynching.” The “iniquitous harassment” the boxing champion had been subjected to would remain “the biggest stain on these Olympic Games”, said Boudi. On Saturday, Khelif emerged victorious in the women’s 66kg final against China’s Yang Liu in a unanimous points decision, having been the focus of intense scrutiny in the French capital for the duration of the Games. After her victory, Khelif said the gold medal she had won was the best response to her critics. Asked by reporters about the row over her eligibility, she said, “I am fully qualified to take part, I am a woman like any other. I was born a woman, lived a woman and competed as a woman.” Image credits: Ulrik Pedersen/CSM/Shutterstock Editorial

Legal

Tom Cruise steals the show at epic Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony

As the Olympic flame was extinguished to signal the Paris 2024 Games officially closed, a surprising famous face stole the show at the epic closing ceremony. In true Olympics style, as the French capital wrapped up their Games, they passed the torch to the 2028 host city Los Angeles, who were having their own celebratory concert. To help in the handover, acting legend Tom Cruise, who is famous for doing many of his own stunts, came in with a skydiving stunt reminiscent of his Mission Impossible films that saw him swing from atop Stade de France before touching down on the stadium’s field. The 62-year-old actor greeted athletes as he walked toward the stage to the final guitar shreds of the American national anthem, as the crowd erupted in cheers. He received the Olympic flag from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and gymnast Simone Biles, then strapped it safely to the back of a motorcycle and rode off into the sunset, which switched into a pre-recorded video that tracked his journey to Hollywood. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Thank you, Paris! Now off to LA. <a href="https://t.co/MxlAb0hZbT">pic.twitter.com/MxlAb0hZbT</a> — Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomCruise/status/1822749650463732136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2024</a></blockquote> In the video, Cruise sped down the streets of Paris on the motorcycle, passing landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, and cruised onto a waiting airplane. "I'm on my way," he said, as he put on skydiving gear, as he then leapt from the plane and headed to the iconic Hollywood sign, where he turned the "O"s into Olympic rings before passing the flag off to Olympic cyclist Kate Courtney. The Olympics wrapped up with USA winning over overall medal tally with an impressive 126 medals, followed closely by China in second place and Japan in third place. Australia wasn't far behind in fourth place, as Nine commentary applauded the Aussie athletes for their most successful games ever. "The theme of the Closing Ceremony tonight: record," Eddie Maguire said in commentary for Nine. "It was a record performance by our Australian athletes. Paris provided record crowds, record ratings around the world on all platforms of media." "Paris, merci beaucoup, au revoir. See you in four years when the City of Angels welcomes the world to the city of dreams for LA 2028." Image credits: Nine Network

News

Is Paris 2024 really achieving its goals for gender equality?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachael-jefferson-297850">Rachael Jefferson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-sturt-university-849">Charles Sturt University</a> The <a href="https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024">Paris Olympics</a> has proudly proclaimed to be the first games in 128 years to offer gender equality. This has been achieved by the <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/news/genderequalolympics-paris-2024-making-history-on-the-field-of-play">International Olympic Committee (IOC)</a> providing an equal number of quota places for female and male athletes, while also increasing the number of women in coaching, broadcasting and sport governance roles. However, gender equality in sport is not just about the numbers – it involves dismantling systemic patriarchy piece by piece. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uaCIpFiN6us?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>The Paris games will feature the highest proportion of women in the history of the Olympics.</figcaption></figure> <h2>Female athlete participation</h2> The ratio of female-to-male athlete parity is significant in the Paris Olympics, given <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/28/the-guardian-view-on-women-and-the-olympics-the-athletes-caught-up-now-the-ioc-must">women were banned from the first games in 1896</a> and only permitted to compete in small numbers in “female-appropriate” events four years later. There was a steady increase in female participation as the games became more popular through the 20th century. However, it was not until 1979 that the right of women to participate in sport was formally included in the first international convention (United Nations) on <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/ProfessionalInterest/cedaw.pdf">the elimination of all forms of discrimination</a> against women. It took another 33 years for women to be allowed to <a href="https://library.olympics.com/default/zoom-femme-et-sport.aspx?_lg=en-GB">compete in all events</a> on the Olympic program in 2012. At the Paris Olympics, <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1090616/olympics-share-athletes-by-gender-since-1896/">50% of competing athletes are women</a>, and the Australian team has its <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-anika-wells-mp/media/australia-supports-unesco-push-for-gender-equality-in-sport?language=en">highest ever proportion of women (55%)</a>. <h2>Women’s visibility</h2> The IOC has been working hard at shaking off its patriarchal reputation for the past three decades or so. Two major milestones were the establishment of the <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/gender-equality/gender-equality-through-time">Women and Sport Working Group</a> in 1995, and the <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2019/635560/EPRS_BRI(2019)635560_EN.pdf">amending of the Olympic Charter</a> a year later to include advancing women in sport as an Olympic principle. Despite this progress, women’s Olympic events have often been <a href="https://revista-apunts.com/en/media-representation-of-women-athletes-at-the-olympic-games-a-systematic-review/">sidelined by the media</a>, enabling male athletes to enjoy greater publicity (and associated sponsorship) than their female counterparts. The long-established scheduling of events <a href="https://www.jou.ufl.edu/insights/gender-based-sports-coverage-a-quarter-century-of-prime-time-summer-olympics/">offers male athletes peak viewing times</a> across the globe, thereby consigning many women to the margins. In Paris, this <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/news/genderequalolympics-paris-2024-making-history-on-the-field-of-play">gender discrimination</a> has been disrupted to better the balance. Combat and strength sports are now based on weight categories, permitting the women’s and men’s events to alternate instead of having men’s events available in the popular evening slot. The women’s marathon – only introduced to the Olympics in 1984 – will <a href="https://worldathletics.org/news/news/key-information-athletics-paris-2024-olympic-games">also conclude the athletics program</a> instead of the men’s for the first time. <h2>Media representation</h2> Amplifying women’s voices and stories from the games has been a key objective for the Paris Olympics. The IOC has been instrumental in this endeavour via its <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/gender-equality/portrayal-guidelines">2024 Portrayal Guidelines:</a> gender-equal, fair and inclusive representation in sport. These guidelines have led to a large increase in the number of female staff in broadcast roles and production teams in Paris. And <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/news/olympic-broadcasting-more-women-in-key-broadcast-roles-at-paris-2024">female-targeted training camps</a> in 2023 provided by the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) have been a timely institutional transformation. Improved media representation of female athletes is also a priority, focusing on how they are visually captured and presented in all forms of media and communication. This helps to reframe persistent patriarchal narratives about how sportswomen must <a href="https://theconversation.com/uniform-discontent-how-women-athletes-are-taking-control-of-their-sporting-outfits-164946">maintain their femininity</a> to be worthy recipients of the <a href="https://vc.bridgew.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1269&context=grad_rev">male gaze</a>. Regrettably, this is still a work in progress for some commentators such as <a href="https://www.skynews.com.au/business/media/you-know-what-women-are-like-eurosport-commentator-bob-ballard-sacked-for-sexist-remark-after-australias-freestyle-relay-win/news-story/739bc7a0efaf9d7007250ab0c4313f15">Bob Bollard, whose recent sexist “makeup” remark</a> went viral when he was reporting on the gold medal win for the Australian women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team. After the Bollard incident, Yiannis Exarchos, the <a href="https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/news/sports/article/3272286/paris-olympics-camera-operators-told-avoid-filming-women-sexist-way">OBS chief, swiftly reminded</a> mostly male camera operators to refrain from any sexist filming of female athletes. He said the problem was mainly down to “unconscious bias”, with camera operators and TV editors tending to show more close-up shots of women than men. <h2>Leadership and infrastructure</h2> Female under-representation in the IOC is well documented. There were <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2019/635560/EPRS_BRI(2019)635560_EN.pdf">no women in the IOC from 1896 to 1981</a> before Flor Isava Fonseca (Venezuela) and Pirjo Häggman (Finland) were co-opted as the <a href="https://stillmed.olympics.com/media/Documents/Olympic-Movement/Factsheets/Women-in-the-Olympic-Movement.pdf">first two female IOC members in 1981</a>. In the IOC’s most recent election in July, the number of <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-session-in-paris-elects-two-new-vice-presidents-and-eight-ioc-members">female members rose to 42.3%</a> – more than a 100% increase in the past decade. Following a long overdue <a href="https://unwomen.org.au/paris-2024-olympics-a-new-era-for-women-in-sport/">IOC rule change in 2020</a>, the traditional male flag bearer in the Olympics Opening Ceremony was accompanied by a female. Gender issues arise with elite sport coaches too – <a href="https://olympics.com/ioc/female-coaches">only 13% of coaches</a> at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were women. In Paris, it is estimated <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2024/07/27/female-coaches-misogyny-olympics-paris-2024-equality-wish/#:%7E:text=At%20the%20Tokyo%20Olympics%20in,10%20coaches%20will%20be%20female.">one in ten coaches are female</a>. Outrage about <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/nikes-olympic-track-womens-uniforms-criticized-athletes-sexism/story?id=109267006">sexist Nike uniforms</a> and the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-olympics-and-fifa-are-trying-to-better-support-mum-aletes-what-are-australian-sports-doing-233218">lack of facilities for “mum-aletes”</a> until the 2024 games both highlight the incessant institutional hurdles elite sportswomen encounter. <h2>A new era for female athletes</h2> The Paris games are a springboard for much needed systemic change in the minutiae of Olympic policies and practices. Female athletes are no longer victims of vast patriarchal conspiracies to lock them out of this male-dominated arena. They’ve gained ground and are kicking sexism to the touchline with relish. We all need to welcome in this new era.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/235665/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachael-jefferson-297850">Rachael Jefferson</a>, Lecturer in Human Movement Studies (Health and PE) and Creative Arts, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-sturt-university-849">Charles Sturt University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/is-paris-2024-really-achieving-its-goals-for-gender-equality-235665">original article</a>. </div>

Caring

Aussie Olympian arrested in Paris after trying to buy drugs

An Aussie Olympian has been arrested after he was caught on the streets of Paris trying to buy a gram of cocaine. Hockey superstar Tom Craig tried to outrun police when he was caught, before realising he couldn't evade the authorities and surrendered. He and teammates had been at a family and friends celebration at the Hotel Maison in Montmartre in the 9th arrondissement after both his team and the Hockeyroos team of girlfriend Alice Arnott lost in the quarter finals. The 28-year-old had spent nearly 18 hours in custody after being arrested at midnight on Tuesday before being released with “a probationary criminal warning for drug use”. As a result of his indiscretion, the Kookaburras veteran has had his Olympic rights stripped from him, been banned from the athletes village and told he does not have the right to march in the closing ceremony. Craig, who is a qualified solicitor, fronted the media in central Paris hours before an AOC press conference, in which he apologised for his behaviour. “I would firstly like to apologise for what has occurred over the last 24 hours,” the Tokyo silver medallist said. “I made a terrible mistake and I take full responsibility for my actions." “My actions are my own and by no way reflect the values of my family, my teammates, my friends, the sport and the Australian Olympic team. I have embarrassed you all and I’m truly sorry.” In the AOC press conference, Australian Olympic chef de mission Anna Meares said she was adamant Kookaburras star Tom Craig was acting alone when trying to purchase the drugs. “We do feel very confident that this is an isolated incident,” Meares said. “I would rather be here talking about the three gold medals that we have won today. But here we are first." “I cannot condone what Tom has done. He is a good person who made a bad decision. But there are consequences that come with decisions like this." “Our team has been exemplary at these Games and his actions do not reflect the values of this team, nor do they diminish this team’s performances. He has apologised, shown remorse and he has owned up to his mistake and we will support him if he needs help." Image credits: X (Twitter)/DAVE HUNT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial

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Aussie Olympian arrested in Paris after trying to buy drugs

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