Why Australia needs a Multicultural Act

Australia's proposed move to ban the wearing of burqas in Parliament House has exposed cultural tensions and social distrust. Hsiao-Shan Fu says Australia needs to support its belief in a multicultural coexistence with a law.

What are voters’ attitudes to constitutional change?

Australians have been asked what they think of a constitutional reform. Bede Harris says the survey indicates that voters are far more willing to consider reform than has previously been supposed.

Community services for children or commercial economic services for GDP?

The 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.

There’s more to the national security debate than ‘more powers please’

National 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.

Children in immigration detention: Worse than Guantanamo Bay?

There 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.

Team Australia: From bad fashion to bad politics

Tony 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.

Commercialising university research: a good but costly move

The 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.

Australia’s national security legislation: Where are we going?

The 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.

Why Australia needs a cyclists party

The 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.

Needles in haystacks: intelligence gathering, subjects and citizens

Two 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.

It’s about what is wrong and what is right

Politicians 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.

Disability pension cuts misguided

An 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.