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.

Year of Disenchantment: Memories of 2015

2015 was another year which saw its share of calamities, its historical follies heaped up. But it will take some time to know where the consequences will come home to roost, says Binoy Kampmark.

Looking back on 2015

Thank you for your interest and support throughout the year. As 2015 comes to an end, I'd like to share some highlights and the most popular blogs of the year with you.

GAP 6th Annual Growth Summit Report released

The Future of Jobs took centre stage at the 6^th Annual Growth Summit at NSW Parliament House in Sydney on 17 and 18 September 2015. You can now read the full report here.