An urban planner's giving the proposed Resource Management Act a big thumbs up, calling the reforms awesome and fantastic.

The Government's confirmed the current RMA will be replaced by two pieces of legislation, one for the environment and one for planning.

They'll be phased in by 2029.

Independent urban planner and strategic development expert Bruce Weir told Andrew Dickens there will always be hiccups, but the changes are great.

He says the compensation element of the changes could be a headache, however previous planning rules were frustrating and full of nonsense.

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Australia's pioneering social media ban is casting ripples around the world.

The new law sets a mandatory age limit of 16 or older for accounts on platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.

Now countries like Malaysia and Denmark are following the Australian lead with similar approaches.

AUT communications studies professor Patrick Usmar told Andrew Dickens enforcement will be difficult, but it should limit exposure to the thousands of ads kids had been seeing every week.

He says parents now won't need to persuade their kids to get off it, and teachers won't need to monitor it as much, because they can just say it's the law now.

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A Supreme Court decision has finally settled the long-running battle over whether family carers should be paid.

The ruling —brought by parents Christine Fleming and Peter Humphreys, who care for their severely disabled adult children— confirms family carers are entitled to pay.

Employment lawyer Joe Williams told Andrew Dickens it’s a monumental shift in how these workers are recognised and how the Government will need to respond.

He says it brings them a minimum wage entitlement, holiday pay, and protections against unfair treatment.

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