• Israel under fire

    Joshua Shanes     |      January 31, 2024

    Far from increasing sympathy for the endlessly embattled Jewish state of Israel, there has been a sharp increase in antisemitism around the world since the Hamas terrorist group crossed the border with Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023 to murder 1,400 civilians and kidnap over 200 more.

  • Who do we choose to care about?

    Charlie Crimston     |      January 30, 2024

    A 24 hour barrage of bad news on social media and endless articles demanding we worry about things we’ve never heard about before or might never happen can sap anyone’s compassion, but can people be encouraged to care more about others beyond their own family and friends?

  • Freedom of information in the age of AI

    Maria O Sullivan     |      January 29, 2024

    There’s been much discussion about how artificial intelligence will affect every part of our society, from school assignments to the music industry, so how will it affect freedom of information laws?

  • Empowering local transitions towards Society 5.0

    Christian Nielsen     |      January 25, 2024

    The concept of Society 5.0 – a superintelligent society of humans, nature and technology in sustainable balance – was launched in Japan in 2016. A systematic, second track, bottom-up ‘society transition model’ could ease the shift towards this next stage of society.

  • Defining the ‘common good’

    Naomi Baes     |      January 23, 2024

    People may agree the need to pursue the “common good” but will then prioritise very different social and moral issues and disagree about practical ways to achieve them.

  • Adventures in the big tent

    John Corvino     |      January 16, 2024

    People often extol the virtue of open-mindedness, but can there be too much of a good thing?

  • Taking the pulse on immigration

    Bernie O'Kane     |      January 14, 2024

    Opinion polls show that most Australians think immigration rates have climbed too high, but more nuanced polling could help inform the government’s range of strategies to address this complex issue.

  • Must do more about MDMA

    Max Thomas     |      January 9, 2024

    Eight people remain in critical condition after overdosing on MDMA at the Hardmission Festival in Flemington on Saturday night, leading the Victorian Greens to call for more pill testing at such events, but this may not be the best solution.

  • Think free or die

    Simon McCarthy-Jones     |      January 9, 2024

    The right to freedom of thought, however, is more rarely discussed. But thanks to the growing influence of social media, big data and new technology, this “forgotten freedom” needs our urgent attention.

  • Heads in the sand

    Alan Stevenson     |      January 2, 2024

    Ostriches don’t actually bury their head in the sand, but 40% of people do, choosing to remain ignorant of the world around them to absolve themselves of moral responsibility.

  • Severance

    Jane Gifkins     |      December 27, 2023

    Digital technology and working from home have made separating work and home even harder than before but setting healthy routines can help put mental as well as physical boundaries around your work time – even when your workplace is in the next room.

  • The future of work

    Open Forum     |      December 16, 2023

    The future of work in Australia is placed under the microscope by leading Australian academics in a new book that paints a realistic picture about the challenges and opportunities presented by new technologies.