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.

New legislation a threat for activists and media

Ag-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.

BOTPA – ‘Because Of The Privacy Act’ – rears its thoughtless head again

The 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.

Open letter to Parliamentarians: Dying without pain and with dignity

Voluntary assisted dying is a sensitive topic that affects the whole of society. Hani Montan asks all members of states and federal Parliaments to reveal how they stand on this issue.

Should the Queen be the last Australian monarch?

Whether or not Australia should become a republic is an ongoing question. Simon Longstaff, Chair of the Intelligence Squared Debates, says now is a good time to discuss the options.

It’s time for our day, Australia

Many Australians are disillusioned with politics and their leaders. David Morris says we need to improve our system of government, have an objective head of state and free ourselves from the colonial thinking of the past.

Join the debate

IQ2 will host a live debate at the City Recital Hall in Sydney on the 24th June on the motion “The Queen should be the last Australian monarch”.

Same sex marriage – the right to choose for everyone

Same-sex couples are not allowed to marry in Australia yet. Gina Worldon argues that same-sex marriage should not affect anyone but the couples directly involved.

Australia to amend parts of the Racial Discrimination Act

The Abbott government has announced plans to amend sections of the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA), in particular Section 18C. Ben Mapuranga argues that this is not the time to change one of the pillars of Australia’s multicultural society.

Good intentions – unintended outcomes

Designing public policy in a multi-disciplinary world is difficult. Peter Fritz gives examples of policies with good intentions and unintended outcomes.

Budget 2014 and the politics of ‘class warfare’

The national budget presented this week has been met with resistance and has become a serious electoral gamble. Dominic O’Sulllivan says that some of the budget’s more far reaching measures won’t pass the Senate.

The World of Pyne: Protest, Q & A and corporate education

On Monday a group of students staged a protest on ABC’s Q & A against Education Minister Christopher Pyne’s proposed higher education cuts. Dr Binoy Kampark says Pyne’s stance is merely taking the project of a longstanding industrialisation and marketing of universities further.