Ruby Littler

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Ruby Littler

Would you confide in an AI chatbot and tell it vulnerable, personal information about yourself? For some this might seem like the far-fetched plot of a sci-fi movie but for others, it's a reality much closer to home. More Australians are accessing generative AI chatbots for emotional guidance and assistance — seeing it as a free, personal therapist.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Ruby Littler

A decade-long battle over a proposed sand mine south of Perth has reached boiling point, as the need to balance the delivery of more housing clashes with environmental concerns. The Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale is pushing back against a revived plan to clear 11.6 hectares of protected banksia woodland in Oldbury, along the Swan Coastal Plain on Perth's southern fringes. Conservationists and residents are concerned, as the site is crucial habitat for the endangered Carnaby’s black cockatoo.

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Ruby Littler

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has promised to avoid the mistakes that plagued WA's recent state election, assuring voters the federal poll will be a different story. In a bid to restore the public confidence, the federal agency has emphasised its independence from the WA Electoral Commission. The WAEC has been in the spotlight after long queues and low staff numbers at polling booths plagued the March 8 state election.

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Ruby Littler

Iron ore is the economic lifeblood of Western Australia. Last year alone, a quarter of the state government's entire revenue came from iron ore royalties, flowing directly into state coffers from the red dirt of the Pilbara. But WA's iron ore sector is about to face a new competitor in the form of the Simandou mine in the African nation of Guinea. Simandou holds one of the largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposits in the world.

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Ruby Littler

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumours which can lead to heavy periods, pelvic pain and, in extreme cases, infertility. The cause of uterine fibroids remains unknown, with limited means of prevention and treatment. Perth women’s health advocates and practitioners are calling for more research into diagnosis and treatment. Anne Johnson spent years trying to have a baby. She fell pregnant six times but wasn't able to carry a child to full term.