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Walking the walk on values with China
Fergus Ryan | June 3, 2018As long as the Australian government claims to be ‘a determined advocate of liberal institutions, universal values and human rights’, as it did in its recent 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper, there should be some evidence that we’re prepared to confront China’s ever more draconian censorship.
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Career, culture and character: New Zealand’s three women Prime Ministers
Elizabeth McLeay | May 20, 2018When Jacinda Ardern became New Zealand’s Prime Minister in 2017, not only was she the youngest PM in 150 years, but she was also the country’s third female leader. When it comes to women in politics in general, there seems to be a lot that we could learn from our neighbours.
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Liberal democracy: just one option among many?
Mike Scrafton | May 17, 2018Democracy appears to be on the retreat around the world and the rise of economically successful authoritarian states is undermining the assumption that political and economic freedom are essential partners for national success.
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What does the 2018 budget mean for society?
Kristy Muir | May 11, 2018While its tax cuts appeal to middle class Australians ahead of a federal election, the new budget has not delivered results for the nation’s most disadvantaged people.
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Good in parts – Science and the Federal Budget
Open Forum | May 9, 2018Australian academics and scientists analyse the budget’s impact on research, health, infrastructure, education and the environment.
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When muscles trump morals: The politics of ‘manliness’
Stephanie Lawson | April 29, 2018Donald Trump openly boasts about his power over women and his political opponents, but what role does this ‘macho’ approach leave for morality in leadership?
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Fighting the shift from services to tax cuts
Cassandra Goldie | April 27, 2018The Australian Council of Social Service has criticised the Treasurer’s announcement that he will not pursue an increase in the Medicare Levy to help fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
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The big chill in Australian-Chinese relations
Graeme Dobell | April 24, 2018A fifth ‘ice age’ has descended on China–Australia relations — cooling business, frosting diplomacy and chilling strategic perspectives.
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Shining a spotlight into dark corners of government corruption
Christine Lagarde | April 23, 2018Anti-corruption strategies require broader regulatory and institutional reforms and so the IMF Executive Board has just endorsed a new framework for stepping up engagement on governance and corruption in its member countries.
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New roles for the Commonwealth
Derek McDougall | April 16, 2018The Commonwealth has been in the news as the Games end on the Gold Coast and attention shifts to the Heads of Government Meeting in London. It makes a good time to consider the significance of this multilateral forum in today’s international affairs.
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No laughing matter: “The Death of Stalin” highlights Putin’s anxieties
Mark Edele | April 14, 2018Armando Ianucci’s dark comedy The Death of Stalin has caused controversy in Russia, but the official ban on the film reveals how much Vladimir Putin fears losing his iron grip on power.
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Are Australians ready to embrace libertarianism?
Chris Berg | April 13, 2018How much influence does libertarianism have on Australian politics? The first thing to know is that the Australian political system has very few libertarians in it.