Justice reform strategy

Australian courts are in meltdown with long waiting times, old technology and dysfunctional rules and processes. Dr David Thorp says our justice system needs a fundamental reform, and here he explains how it can be done.

Early election ultimatum

It seems unlikely that the Australian Building and Construction Commission bill will pass the Senate, and Australia might well be faced with a double dissolution election on 2 July. Political scientist Dominic O’Sullivan says both the ALP and the Coalition now need to develop a coherent strategy.

Beyond Federation: An educational and informative multi-question plebiscite?

Why should the public only be questioned on the one topic of same sex marriage, if we could cover a whole range of issues at the same time? Klaas Woldring can’t think of a more direct form of democracy.

Time for NDIS critics to show their cards

There have been comments from the business sector that the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) should be slowed down. President of People with Disability Australia, Craig Wallace, says if the Business Council of Australia really thinks that Australians with disability and families shouldn't get reasonable and necessary support, it should have the courage and integrity to say so.

Reforming the Senate voting system

The Turnbull Government has proposed to overhaul the current Senate voting system. Is this a cynical power grab or a step towards more democratic transparency? Political scientist Dominic O’Sullivan makes the case for taking the reform even further.

Proposed laws in WA violate peoples’ rights

The Western Australian government has proposed laws which are aiming to clamp down on certain protests. Ben Mapuranga argues that these laws are draconian and violate the right to protest.

Babies and children to go back to Nauru

Hundreds continue to rally outside a Brisbane hospital against the deportation of an asylum seeker infant known as Asha. She is one of 267 refugees currently in Australia due to be sent back to detention on Naru. Angela Beresford says the Government’s tough stance makes her blood boil.

Julian Assange, the UN and meanings of arbitrary detention

A UN panel found that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who faces a rape allegation in Sweden, was "arbitrarily detained" in Ecuador's London embassy. Here’s Binoy Kampmark's take on sex, politics and allegations around the man responsible for some of the most controversial disclosures of classified data in history.

Government needs to ensure Childcare Package boosts attendance of all children

Two reports released this week provide valuable information to assess the Government’s proposed Jobs for Families Childcare Package. Samantha Page, CEO of Early Childhood Australia, calls on the Federal Government to amend the Package Bill to ensure that all three and four year olds in Australia will be able to access early childhood education.

Directing for performance

The Australian Governance Summit happens in Melbourne from 3-4 March 2016. Directors and board members discuss the issues affecting today's organisations and how their governance approach impacts organisational performance.

Cracking the free range fraud

The Federal Government is currently creating a national egg standard to define what ‘free range’ exactly means. Emmanuel Giuffre of animal protection institute Voiceless says now is the time to lobby and demand that free range means that layer hens actually go outside.

The Turnbull Government, the ALP and the political year ahead

A sense of calm and policy focus came to distinguish the Turnbull Government’s first few months in office. Dominic O’Sullivan says the ALP would do well to enter the election campaign under the leadership of one who acts with the same clarity of purpose, confidence and certainty.