Willis's Walkabouts Newsletter 134, October 2025 ― Last Chance on some trips, first chance on others
I had hoped to have this out months ago, but a variety of access problems forced me to spend most of the time I would have used on the newsletter on last minute changes. This was followed by a bit of personal drama, but, at last, here it is.
While I think the whole newsletter is worth a leisurely browse over a few days, I'd particularly like to recommend the two sections on WW trips which have a number of new trips and 'Guilty Until Proven Innocent' Revisited, the first two articles in Your Health and the first one in China.
If you are viewing this on a mobile, the newsletter and many of the links should work better in a horizontal format.
Restricted content. Articles marked * or ** are on restricted websites Click for more info, including how you can sometimes avoid the paywalls.
.
In this issue
WW 2025-26 ― Last Chance
- French Polynesia: 16 November - 6 December
Price: $4000. Guide Sébastien Heritier.
Needs more bookings to run. - Chilean Patagonia: 17 December 2025 - 18 January 2026
Definite departure.
Price: $2995 plus expenses, details in the trip notes.
Due to a cancellation, we have one place available. We can still take a wait list.
Guides: Judy and Rob Clayton. There are many links & photos so you can see what it will be like.
This trip is only for fit and experienced hikers. - Top End New Year: 27 December 2025 to 3 or 4 January 2026
Price: $595. No discounts. There will be additional expenses. Guide: Russell Willis.
Experience the wet season the easy way, mostly or fully accommodated. We'll work out the final itinerary and finish date closer to departure when we know how much rain there has been. That's the only way we can guarantee to give you the best trip possible. - Kakadu Highlights No. 1: 4-17 January
Definite departure.
List price: $5395. Special offer: We will leave the 20% advance purchase discount in effect until until one week after this newsletter goes onto the website. - Green Kimberley: 11-31 January
List price: $8995.
This trip is divided into three sections, any of which can be done on its own. The first two are relatively easy, the third is more difficult.
This trip will be confirmed or cancelled by the end of the first week in November. - Kakadu Super Circle Highlights No. 1: 11 January to 1 or 8 February
List price: $7495 (3 weeks) or $8995 (4 weeks).
This is the longest, most strenuous trip we offer in Australia. Everyone taking part needs to be able to swim at least 200 m unaided.
This trip will be confirmed or cancelled by the end of the first week in November. - Kakadu Family Walk No. 2: 5-11 July 2026.
List price: $3095. One of the families that had tentatively booked wasn't able to make it so we have three places still available.
Book now and you lock in this year's price.
We need bookings well in advance to run our trips
We can't normally run trips unless we have bookings at least two months in advance. Many of our guides have other jobs and need to take time off. We need to make bookings early or we miss out. Permits may be hard to get. The list goes on. That's why we offer advance purchase discounts of up to 20%.
'Guilty Until Proven Innocent' Revisited
In my March Newsletter, I had a section called 'Guilty Until Proven Innocent' which explained how "When the ATO produces a tax "assessment", the assessment automatically becomes a debt at law, whether the assessment is accurate or not. From that point on, the ATO charges taxpayers interest and penalties. Then the taxpayers must prove to the ATO they have paid the correct amount of tax." It's even worse.
'Psychologically unsettling': ATO pursuing more taxpayers for decades-old debt
The tax office has launched a new initiative to claw back debts despite criticism of similar scheme dubbed 'robotax'
Such debts, which are often impossible to contest given they predate the five-year retention period most taxpayers are required to keep records, closely resemble those targeted by the ATO's 2023 scheme designed to raise more than $15bn.
I think it's good that the ATO is trying to collect unpaid tax, but starting the process after someone is likely to have thrown out the records that could prove their innocence is unfair and, in my opinion, should be against the law.
Your Health
End of Life
-
If you only had a year left to live, would you still be a penny pincher? **
Jonathan Clements, the personal finance writer who recently passed away, gave us a road map for valuing what is truly important. -
End-of-life advice: How to bring your A-game as a patient **
I have Stage 4 cancer and see my role as coaching my medical team and being clear about what I want and need -
How do coronial inquests work? Here's what they can and can't do
"There is little understanding of the purpose of the Coroners Court in Australian society. More research is required to ascertain why this is the case, but even law graduates have a low level of literacy about the powers and limitations of coroners. They are seldom taught about the coroner in law school." - What happens in an autopsy? A forensics expert explains
Life After Death?
- The children who remember their past lives **
"What happens when your toddler is haunted by memories that aren't hers?" There are some things science can't explain - Do You Believe in Life After Death? These Scientists Study It. *
Is reincarnation real? Is communication from the "beyond" possible? A small set of academics are trying to find out, case by case.
Bit of an overlap with the above. No explanations for some things.
Our Minds
- We've Misunderstood Human Nature for 100 Years *
"Humans evolved with a prey mind-set, living in fear and constantly seeking protection. Anthropologists now believe that early humans spent many days worrying about predators ― and most nights, too. Big cats, like leopards, hunt primates at night. Their eyes can see in darkness, while our eyes, evolved for detecting ripe fruit in daylight, cannot."
"We're hard-wired to detect threats quickly and to stay fixated on places where threats once appeared, even after they have vanished. We fear that "child predators" will abduct our kids even when they are safer than ever. - Our Brains Are No Match for Our Technology *
This article is from 5 years ago. It's just as true today, maybe more so. There may be answers, but the way we are wired means that very few will accept them.
"We have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions and godlike technology."
Since Mr. Wilson's observation, technology's godlike powers have increased dramatically, while the ancient, Paleolithic impulses of our brains have remained the same. With our Paleolithic instincts, we're simply unable to resist technology's gifts. But this doesn't just compromise our privacy. It also compromises our ability to take collective action. -
Francis Bacon's Essays explore the darker side of human nature. 400 years on, they still instruct and unnerve.
Human nature hasn't changed. "The Essays have, in fact, never been out of print since 1625." Read the article and see why.
Misc
-
Fish and chips shouldn't come with a catch: how Australia can keep illegal seafood off our plates
Australia spends considerable effort managing its own fisheries, ensuring they are legal and sustainable. Yet, 60 to 70% of the seafood consumed in Australia is imported. These imports come mainly from countries with weaker environmental regulations, more illegal activity, and greater vulnerability to labour abuse and slavery. -
Falsely labelled 'organic' products rife on Australian shelves, shoppers warned
"Organic farmers sound alarm about greenwashing amid push to introduce national domestic standard." There are some certifications that are meaningful but it's hard to know which. I agree, we do need national standards. - Ice baths are booming in popularity ― but they come with health risks
- What to eat to protect your aging muscles **
The foods you choose are as important as exercise for getting and staying strong. -
Does eating cheese before bed really give you nightmares? Here's what the science says
A gouda night's sleep? -
Some towns are cutting fluoride from water supplies. Here's what this means for locals' teeth
"For every A$100 a council spends fluoridating water, a resident saves up to A$1,800 in potential dental treatment costs." Medicare doesn't cover dental expenses. For me, it's a no brainer. - How do mosquito repellents work? A chemistry expert explains
- Why do doctors run late?
Article finishes with what you can do ― highly recommended. -
Reusing medical equipment is good for the planet. But is it safe?
Even a short stay in hospital produces a large amount of waste. Just picture all the disposable items designed to be used once and thrown away: face masks, gloves, packaging, intravenous tubing, and even equipment such as stainless steel scissors.
Healthcare in America
We have problems, but it's far worse in America.
- Healthcare Madness
"Our system rewards insurers for saying 'no' as often as possible. This is intensely frustrating for millions of patients and physicians."
• Insurers know many of their claim denials won't withstand even mild scrutiny.
• They also know most patients won't fight a slow, archaic appeal process.
The strategy, it seems, is to a) make the process difficult, b) grease the squeaky wheels, and c) let everyone else suffer.
As a purely commercial matter, that's the right call. Insurers are trying to maximize profits, as all businesses do.
The problem is these normal market incentives produce bizarre, expensive, and often harmful results when applied to medical decisions across the economy. - How to Handle Kennedy as America's Top Health Official *
China
No particular order, but all interesting.
- The New Great Game: How China's Grip on Critical Minerals Is Redrawing the World Order
"From steel and silicon to cobalt and gallium, the world runs on mined materials. These resources underpin everything from EVs and solar panels to semiconductors and guided missile systems. In the 21st century, the power to mine, refine, and control these inputs is the power to dominate industrialisation, dictate the pace of technological progress, and reshape the global balance of power. China understands this. The West, by and large, does not."
China controls a huge percentage of the minerals modern tech depends on. What happens if they cut supply?
Without secure access to critical minerals, entire industries grind to a halt. You can't build batteries without lithium, cobalt, and graphite. You can't make semiconductors or chips without silicon, gallium, and high-purity quartz. You can't wage war or produce advanced defence systems without REEs, titanium, and tungsten. And you can't transition to net zero without copper, aluminium, and nickel.
If you want to know more about the issue, the full article is well worth a read. - China is winning the trade war Trump started **
On many fronts, Trump is inadvertently aiding China's anti-American dictatorship - America Will Come to Regret Selling A.I. Chips to China *
Permitting these chip sales threatens American dominance in A.I., undermines U.S. tech companies and risks our national security ― all in favor of one chipmaker's near-term profits. - Tear It Down, They Said. He Just Kept Building. *
Defying demolition orders, a Chinese man turned his home into a rickety 11-story tower. Now tourists are coming. -
New Report: TikTok Brainwashed America's Youth
"Researchers found that TikTok significantly downplayed negative content related to China"
China's 'indoctrination isn't hypothetical. It's real.' - Chinese automakers redefine the car as a living space at Beijing Auto Show
Remember when the debate was whether Toyota would eclipse General Motors as the world's biggest car producer? Well, that battle is long in the rearview mirror. But the difference here is Japan just did a better job of what Detroit was already doing, whereas China is doing something brand new.
China now makes some of the best cars in the world. They are getting better faster than the old companies in the West (or Japan). -
China has banned US exports of key minerals for computer chips ― leaving Washington with limited options **
The US must have seen this coming. I wonder what alternatives they've thought of. If not, the level of incompetence at the highest levels is mind-boggling. - China Hacked Treasury Dept. in 'Major' Breach, U.S. Says *
This one is over a year old but still important. The episode comes at a particularly sensitive moment, just as the Biden White House is dealing with one of the most far-reaching, and damaging, hacks into American infrastructure in the cyberage. - US-China Trade War 2.0
Page links to a video and/or transcript.
"China's economy is not nearly as financialized as the US economy, and the priorities of the government are flat-out different. They don't necessarily mind if investors take it on the chin. They care more about a household than they do a hedge fund." - Emerging Details of Chinese Hack Leave U.S. Officials Increasingly Concerned *
Leaders of the big telecommunications companies were summoned to the White House to discuss strategies for overhauling the security of the nation's telecommunications networks amid growing alarm at the scope of a Chinese hack.
If something similar hasn't happened here, it's only because Australia isn't worth the bother.
"I'd have to say the Chinese have matched, or exceeded, what we can do ― and we didn't see this one coming. - Why Did Tens of Thousands of Chinese Students Go on Night Bike Rides? *
Making the impromptu five-hour ride between two Chinese cities became a craze among young people. But as their numbers swelled, the authorities shut it down. - TikTok offered an extraordinary deal. The U.S. government took a pass. **
The app's executives proposed giving the Biden administration control over its U.S. operations and a kill switch if things went south. The administration declined, setting up an existential legal fight.
Reminds me of the old saying, "My mind is made up. Don't try and confuse me with the facts." - Nvidia and AMD to pay 15% of China chip sales to US
Is Trump really China's best friend? Money overrules security concerns.
Corruption
Victoria
How ETU shooters foiled a national park
The Electrical Trades Union has used its political leverage to keep Victoria's Central Highlands open for hunting, in the midst of a national backtracking on forest conservation.
Whether or not you live in Victoria, you might want to
send a message to the government.
I don't live in Victoria but I sent a message anyway.
Northern Territory
Do I live in the most corrupt jurisdiction in Australia? Here are a few articles from the NT Independent an online news service. The first story shows how "The 24-year-old man who struck two Aboriginal men with his car, leaving one to die as he fled the scene, and who received no jail time this week for the crime, is related to Attorney-General." Click the link for the full story and scroll down for details plus a couple of others.
National
Environment watchdog buried report on lead in children's blood to placate mining companies, emails show
Documents tabled in parliament show agency took four years to publish report and told miners it would be put online 'quietly' but EPA says it was released to community earlier.
AI ― Artificial Intelligence
- AI will soon be able to audit all published research ― what will that mean for public trust in science?
-
AI is driving down the price of knowledge ― universities have to rethink what they offer
"A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention."
When facts become cheap and plentiful, our limited capacity to filter, judge and apply them turns into the real bottleneck.
That is why scarce resources shift from information itself to what machines still struggle to copy: focused attention, sound judgement, strong ethics, creativity and collaboration.
AI Search & Delusions
- AI doesn't know 'no' ― and that's a huge problem for medical bots
Many AI models fail to recognise negation words such as "no" and "not", which means they can't easily distinguish between medical images labelled as showing a disease and images labelled as not showing the disease. - I asked Perplexity, an AI search engine, what I thought was a simple mathematical question. The logic at the beginning of the answer seemed fine, but the end result was rubbish. I recognised that it was rubbish and asked a series of simpler questions which got me the right answer. It pays to be aware of the limitations of AI.
- Few have tried OpenAI's Google killer. Here's what they think. **
OpenAI's search tool shows promise but lacks Google's specialized functions and can suffer from 'hallucinations.' -
Understanding the 'Slopocene': how the failures of AI can reveal its inner workings
The flaws, failures and unexpected outputs of AI systems can reveal more about how these technologies actually work than the polished, successful outputs they produce.
When AI hallucinates, contradicts itself, or produces something beautifully broken, it reveals its training biases, decision-making processes, and the gaps between how it appears to "think" and how it actually processes information. -
Chatbots Can Go Into a Delusional Spiral. Here's How It Happens. *
"one of a growing number of people who are having persuasive, delusional conversations with generative A.I. chatbots that have led to institutionalization, divorce and death." - AI free from bias and ideology is a fantasy ― humans can't organise data without distorting reality
-
Alexa Got an A.I. Brain Transplant. How Smart Is It Now? *
It took Amazon several years to overcome technical hurdles as it remade its voice assistant with new artificial intelligence technology.
"despite its new capabilities, Alexa+ is too buggy and unreliable for me to recommend. In my testing, it not only lagged behind ChatGPT's voice mode and other A.I. voice assistants I've tried, but was noticeably worse than the original Alexa at some basic tasks."
Misc
-
Are you in a mid-career to senior job? Don't fear AI ― you could have this important advantage
• "Leaders are also observing an important and unexpected distinction: experienced workers are often much better at judging the quality of AI outputs. This might become one of the most important skills, given that AI occasionally hallucinates or gets things wrong."
• "Senior colleagues are using multiple AIs. If they don't have the right solution, they re-prompt, iterate, but the juniors are satisfied with the first answer, they copy, paste and think they're finished. They don't yet know what they are looking for, and the danger is that they will not learn what to look for if they keep working that way." - These jobs will thrive ― but others may vanish ― as AI transforms Australia's workforce
- AI and Automation ― Are You Ready?
• We are living in a nonlinear world, one that could rip the fabric of our society as change arrives faster than most people can handle.
• The World Economic Forum (WEF) estimates that 39% of workers will need to change their core skills by 2030 ―five years from now! ― specifically due to AI and automation.
• Labor markets in developed countries are most at risk of automation, with up to 60% of jobs at stake.
• Will you, your children and grandchildren be prepared? There is a lot more in the article. Highly recommended. - I've Spent My Life Measuring Risk. AI Rings Every One of My Alarm Bells.
• Artificial intelligence could wipe out half of all entry-level, white-collar-jobs and spike unemployment to 10 to 20 percent in the next one to five years.
• If Amodei is even half right on his unemployment prediction, you can bet we will face unprecedented social upheaval.
• China could attempt to weaponize AI in a way that imperils humanity; but so could others, including assorted radicals and terror groups, if they are somehow able to develop the required technological expertise. For me, the odds are 5 percent China and 95 percent others. After all, ending humanity is not what any leader strong enough to run a country wants as a legacy.
• Think about that last one. A small group or even a single talented individual could bring down a major part of our society. - We the Public Will Pay for AI
• AI and automation, electric vehicles, and a push in many states to ban gas cooktops and heat all have one thing in common: They require increasing amounts of electricity. And our grid and electricity generation system are ill-prepared after years of relatively flat demand.
• Even the smallest data centers use about 18,000 gallons of water every day to cool their systems, with the largest data center complexes using up to 5 million gallons a day. Two-thirds of these new data centers are being built in places that already struggle with water scarcity.
• The law of supply and demand will take care of the energy needs, but costs per kWh are going to increase. The question becomes: Who pays for the additional cost? In most markets, the answer is likely consumers. Not consumers of AI, mind you, but everyone.
WW International Trips
Our first overseas trip was in 1990. Given the increasing restrictions on where we can go in Australia, we have increased the number of trips we are offering overseas. We do not do the same thing over and over. No two of our overseas have ever been or will ever be exactly the same.
- French Polynesia: 16 November - 6 December 2025
Price: $4000. Guide Sébastien Heritier.
We will offer this trip again in late 2026. - Chilean Patagonia: 17 December 2025 - 18 January 2026
Definite departure.
Price: $2995 plus expenses, details in the trip notes.
Due to a cancellation, we have one place available. We can still take a wait list.
Guides: Judy and Rob Clayton. There are many links & photos so you can see what it will be like.
This trip is only for fit and experienced hikers. - South Africa: March-April 2026
Price: $2795 plus expenses.
Guide: Russell Willis. This trip is a work in progress. The link above will show you some of the things we hope to include. - Peru: 15 July - 22 August 2026
Price: US$10,990 From the Amazon to the Andes, this trip has it all. Local guides and packhorses for the high altitude treks are what makes it so expensive.
Guides: Judy and Rob Clayton. - South Africa & Namibia: August-September 2026
Price: $2795 plus expenses. Some of the walks we hope to include get booked out many months in advance so we need early bookings to run the trip.
Guide: Russell Willis. - New Caledonia: 4-25 October 2026
Price: $4460 + expenses. Guide Sébastien Heritier. - Patagonia Day Walks: December 2026 - January 2027
Price: $2795 plus expenses. Guide: Russell Willis.
Bushwalking in Kakadu ― Please Help If You Can
Have you ever tried to get a permit to do a walk in Kakadu? Do you know anyone who has? If so, I'd like to hear about your or their experience. Some of the stories I've heard are nightmares. I don't think the Board realises what bushwalkers think of the permit system. I'd like them to know.
Back in 2006, I was appointed to the Kakadu Tourism Consultative Committee as a way to give bushwalking a direct input to the Board of Management. My position morphed into 'niche operator'. When I leave the KTCC, bushwalking will no longer have a voice. But, before I leave, I'd like to make one final submission on behalf of everyone who has walked or who might want to walk in Kakadu.
I have created a special gmail account dedicated to getting feedback about bushwalking in Kakadu. I am also in the process of creating an online questionnaire to simplify the feedback process. Creating that questionnaire is proving to be even harder than I expected. If you have ever applied for a Kakadu bushwalking permit and would like to assist in the construction of the questionnaire, please use the link below to send me an email and I'll send you a link to the DRAFT questionnaire.
If you know anyone else who has applied for a Kakadu Bushwalking permit, please pass this along. Maybe, just maybe, I can do something to help improve the permit system for everyone.
Please use this link to send me an email to get a link to the draft questionnaire.
Birds ― and Fish
Birds
- Birds use hidden black and white feathers to make themselves more colourful
- From grasslands to killing fields: why trees are bad news for one of Australia's most stunning birds
- The 'enduring' mystery of how birds know when Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is filling with water
-
The remarkable rise of eBird ― the world's biggest citizen science project
Among other things, great way to get kids involved with nature.
Reading the last article reminded me of how well birdwatchers have fared on our trips. Some of our clients made lists of all the birds they saw. If you are a keen birdwatcher, you might want to have a browse and get an idea of the birds you might see on one of our trips.
- Kakadu: Twin to Jim Jim
This one includes three different trips, showing which birds were seen on which trip. - Kimberley: Mitchell Plateau
- Red Centre: Finke - Watarrka
- South Africa
- Namibia and Botswana
This is a work in progress. It already shows over 270 birds and will have even more info when it's finished.
Fish
This was going to be only about birds, but I got an email from the VNPA and thought it was worth publicising.
"The Great Victorian Fish Count is almost here, which means it's time for our annual fishy presentation night! Join us at 6.30pm on Tuesday 28 October as we shine a light on what's washing into our bays and how we can keep them healthy. Plus, we'll journey through reefs few people ever see ― the mesophotic reefs of eastern Australia.
The Lighter Side
Humour
- Words of Wisdom.
- And, for the older folk, The Colorectal Surgeon Song
Good News Stories I Enjoyed That Didn't Fit Anywhere Else
- These little bettongs were wiped out in South Australia a century ago. Now they're thriving alongside foxes and feral cats
- How Scientists Are Using Drones to Study Sperm Whales *
A new tagging method called tap-and-go allows researchers to gather more data on the health and behavior of whales, with less disruption. - An Australian chemist just won the Nobel prize. Here's how his work is changing the world
"At a time when the value of research is being questioned, Robson's story is a powerful reminder of how scientific research leads to real-world impact after years of sustained effort and support." - Two Men Wrote 'Messiah.' You Know One of Them. *
"Messiah" wasn't really Handel's ― or at least not only his. It was born of one of the least recognized partnerships in music history but one of significant artistry, the Enlightenment-era equivalent of George and Ira Gershwin or Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Handel wrote the music but the original idea and the libretto ― "the book" as it would be called on Broadway ― belonged wholly to Jennens.
In our highly polarised age, it's a good example of what can be done from another polarised age.
Safety
What you buy might kill you
- It is not illegal to sell unsafe products in Australia. This means when you go to the shops or buy something online, you can't be certain that the manufacturer has made sure it's safe for use.
- Recent CHOICE research has found that 74% of consumers mistakenly believe that businesses are legally required to ensure products are safe before selling them in Australia. This is despite 93% of people believing that businesses having this legal obligation is important.
- This should be a priority for our leaders. That's why we're calling on the Assistant Treasurer to deliver better protections against dangerous products so that we can trust that the products we buy in Australia are safe. Sign the petition for strong product safety laws now.
News About This Newsletter
Coming Next Issue
I have far more than I could fit into a single issue. Here are some of the topics I hope to cover.
• A bit of my own history.
• Rare Earths. Not boring when you realise how much we depend on them.
• Crime ― It's a problem, but politicians don't seem to want to consider solutions that have been proven to work.
• Education.
• War.
• When? Hopefully well before Christmas
Restricted websites. The NY Times allows non-subscribers to look at ten free articles each month. I've got more links than that in this newsletter so I've marked them with a red asterisk (*) so that you can choose which are of most interest to you. Bloomberg allows three free articles. The Washington Post and The Economist both have limits but I'm not sure what the current limits are so I've marked their articles with a double red asterisk (**).
How to Get Past a Paywall to Read an Article for Free
Even if you regularly support journalism by paying, sometimes you need to get around it.
As always, I welcome a bit of feedback about some of the things in this newsletter and suggestions for the next one.
Sending the newsletter
I'm now using a paid version of MailChimp to send all of the newsletters. I'm not sure what I'll do if the list goes over 2500.
walkabout@bushwalkingholidays.com.au is the contact address on our website. If you would like to continue to receive these newsletters, please include this address in your "friends list" so that it isn't blocked.
Emails sent to walkabout@bushwalkingholidays.com.au are currently automatically forwarded to rrwillis at internode.on.net. If you want to send an email to that address, replace the word "at" with the symbol @. I am trying not to put that address any place where it can be harvested by spam bots.
We don't want to add to the mass of email spam. If you don't want our newsletter, please send us an email and let us know. We'll then delete your name from our newsletter list.
Our email address is walkabout@bushwalkingholidays.com.au.
Note. Both MailChimp and the other program we use to send some of these newsletters have an automatic delete at the bottom. Clicking that link will delete you from the mailing list on the server but it will not delete you from our main database. One of the programs will not allow the auto delete to send me an email notifying me that a deletion has been made. If you want to be sure that you are removed from all further mailings, please send an email to walkabout@bushwalkingholidays.com.au
If you know someone you think would enjoy this newsletter, please forward it to them. The more people who get it, the more likely it is that I'll be able to run the trips which might interest you.
I hope you enjoyed reading this newsletter as much as I enjoyed producing it.
Russell Willis