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Community services for children or commercial economic services for GDP?
Eva Cox | September 15, 2014The Government has asked the Productivity Commission for a public inquiry into future options for childcare and early childhood learning. Social and political researcher Eva Cox explains why she is critical of the recommendations in the draft report.
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There’s more to the national security debate than ‘more powers please’
Malcolm Crompton | September 8, 2014National security remains high on the government's agenda. Malcolm Crompton says it is time to have a complete debate over the issue and think it through in order to avoid waking up in the Surveillance Society.
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Children in immigration detention: Worse than Guantanamo Bay?
Angela Beresford | September 3, 2014There is mounting evidence that children in immigration detention are subject to appalling physical and mental maltreatment. Angela Beresford speculates about the political motives of the Australian Government.
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Team Australia: From bad fashion to bad politics
Binoy Kampmark | September 1, 2014Tony Abbott recently declared that everyone has got to be on ‘Team Australia’. Binoy Kampmark argues that the politics of division can never unite and are bound to send groups into even more insularity.
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Commercialising university research: a good but costly move
Tim Mazzarol | August 26, 2014The federal government is seeking to restructure the way university research funding is allocated to foster more applied outcomes. Tim Mazzarol explains why strengthening the relationship between universities and industry makes sense.
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Australia’s national security legislation: Where are we going?
Patrick Walsh | August 18, 2014The government has announced a review of the national anti-terrorism legislation, including changes to mandatory data retention. Intelligence and security expert Dr Patrick Walsh explains the proposed changes and puts them into a global context.
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Why Australia needs a cyclists party
Omar Khalifa | August 1, 2014The Australian Cyclists Party has recently been approved to be a registered Federal party. Its President and Founder Omar Khalifa says we need to rethink our priorities if we want to improve traffic congestion, our health and the environment.
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Needles in haystacks: intelligence gathering, subjects and citizens
Binoy Kampmark | July 30, 2014Two American whistleblowers are currently in Australia to give talks on reclaiming one’s citizenry once it's lost. Binoy Kampmark says there is an obsession with controlling every facet of information as a means of protecting a state’s security.
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It’s about what is wrong and what is right
Alycia Gawthorne | July 18, 2014Politicians from both major parties keep using asylum seekers to score political points. Alycia Gawthorne from GetUp says that instead of operating on our most base human emotions, fear of the unknown, our actions should reflect our nation’s true values of mateship and a fair go.
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Disability pension cuts misguided
Marie Sheahan | July 4, 2014An Interim report of the McClure welfare review proposes moving thousands of people off the Disability Support Pension if they have some capacity to work. Marie Sheahan says tackling discrimination of disabled people in the workforce should be prioritised over pension cuts.
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New legislation a threat for activists and media
Emmanuel Giuffre | June 30, 2014Ag-gag is the term used for a variety of anti-whistleblower laws in the US. Emmanuel Giuffre from the animal protection institute Voiceless says that proposed law reforms across Australia are an attack on freedom of information and free speech.
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BOTPA – ‘Because Of The Privacy Act’ – rears its thoughtless head again
Malcolm Crompton | June 16, 2014The rate of growth in privacy laws around the world is accelerating. Malcolm Crompton says that privacy legislation itself isn’t the problem, but rather the response to it by business.