The Library Bulletin

Barnaby Joyce nominated for Kiwi of the year award Embattled Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, is the second-most nominated person for 2018's New Zealander of Year award. "At the conclusion of the nominations period, the awards office will assess Mr Joyce's eligibility based on his citizenship and other criteria," he said. "The independent judging panel will then consider each nomination on how a particular individual has contributed to making New Zealand a better place to live." Mr Joyce has since renounced his New Zealand citizenship. About 371 nominations have been received so far, with a deadline of September 18. A shortlist will be chosen by a panel and announced in December.

LCA applauds proposed Modern Slavery Act The Law Council of Australia has welcomed new recommendations for the development of a Modern Slavery Act, calling it a “vital step forward”. The legal body is backing recommendations included in an interim report of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, which urges the need for a Modern Slavery Act. The committee has recommended that a Modern Slavery Act should include the creation of an Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, a move that LCA applauds.

Fact check: Is the same-sex marriage survey a completely novel idea that is not actually a plebiscite? The Coalition's promise to give Australians a say on whether same-sex marriage should be legal has changed from a planned compulsory plebiscite to a voluntary postal survey, sparking anger from same-sex marriage supporters. Michael Kirby, a former judge of the High Court, who is gay and a same-sex marriage supporter, described the postal survey as "unacceptable" and "irregular". A High Court challenge to the survey will be heard on September 5 and 6. Should the ballot be ruled illegitimate, it would return the nation to "deadlock", according to Professor Williams.