The 2019 Budget verdict – Part 1

From the politics and macro numbers, to infrastructure and domestic violence, University of Melbourne experts dissect the government’s election budget in part one of our special coverage.

The 2019 Budget verdict – Part 2

What does it mean for the unemployed? Refugees? Indigenous Australians? Climate change and education? University of Melbourne experts assess the Federal budget in part two of our coverage.

The 2019 Budget verdict – Part 3

What does the budget mean for the housing market and farmers? Foreign aid and young people? University of Melbourne experts analyse the Federal budget in part three of our coverage.

Putting inheritance taxes back on the agenda

Reintroducing inheritance taxes would be an efficient and equitable way to address housing affordability, according to University of Queensland researchers.

A stormy year ahead for Australian foreign policy

By the end of 2019 we should be able to judge the relative success or failure of the grand plan laid out in the 2017 Foreign Policy White Paper. The implementation of strategy requires skill and leadership and Federal ministers will need all three in 2019 as a volatile year lies ahead.

The dangerous allure of the Augustinian strongman

The Roman emperor Augustus is held up by some as a statesman who brought peace, and as a potential model for the future. But what was the cost of Augustus’ peace, and how relevant is his model today?

GAP in 2018 – A year in review

Open Forum is owned and operated by the Sydney-based policy institute Global Access Partners, and its co-founder and managing director, Catherine Fritz-Kalish, looks back at another year filled with achievement for the company.

Rethinking think tanks and diplomacy

Policy institutes and think thanks are increasingly performing diplomatic functions which were traditionally the sole preserve of government officials around the world.

Will the new CIC reduce government corruption?

The Federal Government has finally announced steps to tackle corruption in its midst, however, while the model proposed is an improvement on the piecemeal status quo, it may not go far enough to be effective.

Hatred is no substitute for strategy

Controversial political leaders such as US President Donald Trump stir up strong feelings in their opponents, but a calm and rational approach to political debate, rather than a surfeit of passion, is the best way to strengthen the democratic process.

George H.W. Bush deserves his glowing tributes

Americans today could do worse than heed the 41st President’s counsel about the importance of allies, the danger of hubris, illusions of omnipotence, and the wisdom of limits, restraint and modesty in a messy and pluralistic world.

Introducing integrated e-government in Australia

Launching a national effort to integrate service delivery across all three tiers of government would be a political challenge but it would deliver benefits for every Australian.