Meryl Dorey, the founder and long-term president of the Australian [anti]Vaccination Network, has announced that she has relinquished her position as president of the organisation, effective January 1. Her replacement is Queensland-based AVN board member, Greg Beattie. Beattie, whom the AVN describes as a “long-time vaccine researcher”, is the author of two anti-vaccination books — Vaccination: A Parent’s Dilemma, … Read on »
Announcements
Media Watch blasts AVN – “deceptive”, “baloney” and “bulldust”
ABC-TV’s Media Watch program has described the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN) as “deceptively-named” and an “obsessively anti-vaccination pressure group that’s immunised itself against the effect of scientific evidence”. In a segment of the program titled “False balance leads to confusion”, which went to air on October 1, host Jonathan Holmes also referred to an AVN claim about … Read on »
Ken Harvey, the Consumer Champion
Choice (The Australian Consumers Association) has named Dr Ken Harvey as its Consumer Champion for 2012. The organisation says that “Ken really put himself on the line when he went up against weight loss company SensaSlim last year. When he lodged a complaint about their ads with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), SensaSlim threatened to sue him … Read on »
Bent Spoon to RMIT; Skeptic of the Year to Loretta Marron
At the recent national convention of Australian Skeptics, held in Sydney at the Australian Museum on November 19, the not-so-coveted Bent Spoon Award was given to RMIT University “for having a fundamentalist chiropractic education program – if the word education can be used in this way – and for endorsing the practice by targeting children and infants in their … Read on »
Power Balance admit to misleading claims
In a move that has been welcomed by skeptical groups all over the world, an Australian consumer watchdog group, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has instructed Power Balance to cease making misleading claims about their silicone bracelets. The performance sports bracelets, which have gained considerable popularity via high profile athlete endorsements, have become an essential … Read on »
More TAM speakers
We’re happy to announce additional speakers for the already stellar line-up of TAM Australia. A highlight of the convention will be the appearance of Dick Smith in a special reunion meeting with James Randi – the two initial founders of Australian Skeptics, on stage at the one time. This will be a once in a lifetime experience. Also among … Read on »
AVN in more trouble
In a report on the ABC’s Lateline program on August 4, it was stated that the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN) had been found guilty by the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) of potential breaches of charity fund-raising laws. The AVN raises much of its income from donations based on its status as a … Read on »
TAM Australia Sold Out!
Tickets for TAM Australia have sold out. A limited number of full-priced tickets may be released at a later date should they become available. Keep your eyes on the official website at www.tamaustralia.org for any further developments. The website will provide possible future registration information as well as updates about speakers, accommodation … Read on »
Crusade Against Ethics
In what appears to be a concerted effort to keep its hallowed patch in the NSW education curriculum, the forces of the Anglican and Catholic Churches and the NSW Christian Democratic Party are using their influence to scuttle a planned trial of ethics teaching in NSW schools. The initial plan is to implement ethics teaching classes as … Read on »
Meryl Dorey, a Closet Skeptic?
We have recently learnt that Meryl Dorey, retiring president of the Australian (anti)Vaccination Network, registered these four website domain names in October 2009: australiansceptics.com australiansceptics.org australiansceptics.net australiansceptics.info That took time and money and we’re impressed at Meryl’s new skeptical interest, given her many recent complaints of having no time, no money and wanting to spend more time with the family. After all, it … Read on »
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