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Byron Shire
June 21, 2026

Informed consent

Latest News

The NT intervention laws that shape lives

This Sunday marks 19 years since the then Howard Government announced the Northern Territory Intervention laws – ‘The Intervention’ began with a media release by Mal Brough, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, on June 21, 2007.

Other News

Discovering Byron’s influence on Australian music

For a small regional area the Byron Shire and Northern Rivers have had an outsized impact on the culture and music in Australia.

Cartoons of the week – 17 June, 2026

The Echo loves your letters and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, send us your epistles.

The NT intervention laws that shape lives

This Sunday marks 19 years since the then Howard Government announced the Northern Territory Intervention laws – ‘The Intervention’ began with a media release by Mal Brough, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, on June 21, 2007.

Burn After Dark: Three Blue Ducks

Following a sold-out debut in 2025, Burn After Dark returns to Three Blue Ducks on Thursday, 2 July from...

Interview with Drover

Doing the DIY at Stone & Wood Bobby Conn, Roy Parsons, Rhys Mcilwaine and Molly O’Neil are the key members...

Lismore Council spruiks 150 projects since 2022 floods

A milestone of 150 projects has been reached since the 2022 disasters, says Lismore City Council.

John Scrivener, Main Arm

The right to informed consent is a fundamental ethic in medicine and a basic human right recognised under international law.

A year ago, an unrepresentative and antidemocratic cohort, including agents from the IMF, the WHO and the Billionaire Gates Foundation, advised governments around the world to impose drastic and unprecedented restrictions on their populations, under the guise of containing the spread of a flu-like illness.

I believe the proponents of these policies, people like Fauci and Gates, exploit the restrictions and media induced fear of flu-like illnesses to promote widespread use of experimental vaccines. Some are even demanding mandatory vaccinations, in violation of the right to informed consent. The restrictions themselves in many instances violate basic freedoms.

As a signatory of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and other internationally recognised agreements, the Australian government is legally obliged to uphold the right to informed consent.

Our governments’ health policies should be about protecting our health and human rights, not facilitating profits for big pharma.



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The Echo loves your letters and comments and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

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Hemp industry given boost with development plan

A Hemp Industry Development Plan has been announced by the NSW government, which promises 'to unlock new opportunities for NSW businesses and add value to the state's low-THC hemp industry, which is forecast to become a $100 million Australian industry by 2032'.

Gambling harm recognised by Tweed Council, supported by Wesley Mission

Faith-based, not-for-profit organisation providing community services in NSW, Wesley Mission, has welcomed Tweed Shire Council’s decision to publicly recognise the impact of gambling harm and advocate for stronger harm-minimisation measures.

Winter Warmer fundraiser for homelessness

The annual Winter Warmer Homelessness Relief campaign, hosted by Dharma Care, will return for 2026 with cabaret at Salt, Kingscliff, on Thursday 2 July, headlined by comedian Mandy Nolan, interactive performance artist The Space Cowboy and the Kinship Doobai Dancers, with a Welcome to Country from Aunty Jackie.

Tweed Shire Council presents flood resilience series – part one

Over the coming weeks, Tweed Shire Council will present a flood resilience series, which looks at how 'Tweed's story is different from the standard flood recovery narrative and what happened next'.