One would be forgiven for thinking corporal punishment in schools is something confined to history, but a recent case at Queensland's Gold Coast has demonstrated that it can be legal for a teacher to slap a student. National Children's and Youth Law Centre Director, James McDougall says the law is behind the research on children's welfare. Queensland Teachers Union President, Steve Ryan says sometimes physical measures are necessary and would like better training for teachers.

A new report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute says Australian troops should stay involved in Afghanistan affairs for at least another 15-years. Richard Tanter is a Professorial Fellow in International Relations and the Director of the Nautilus Institute at RMIT University. He disagrees with the recommendations in the report. He says studies in the institute have raised questions about Australia's involvement in the war.

Opponents to the proposed Traveston Crossing Dam in south-east Queensland have gained international support. Glenda Pickersall from the Save the Mary River Coordinating Group says the issue has been included in the agenda for World Expo 2008.

Queensland's twenty year old ban on parents using surrogate mothers to give birth to their children may be changed. A parliamentary committee has been established to investigate the laws in the only state to completely ban the practice. The investigation was prompted by Premier Anna Bligh after hearing the story of Federal Minister Stephen Conroy and his wife Paula who use surrogacy to conceive their daughter - a choice that would have been illegal in Queensland. The Wire spoke to Associate Professor Anita Stuhmcke from the University of Technology Sydney

When it comes to relations between Police and Sudanese communities in Australia ... the media rarely finds positive things to say. Michelle Turnbull attended a soccer match earlier this week designed to bridge the cultural divide between the two groups. She spoke to players from both teams, their supporters Police Commissioner Bob Atkins and the Acting Police Commissioner Clem O'Reagan.