The retirement blind spot

Australia’s superannuation system is at risk of disadvantaging vulnerable members, creating a gap between the legislated promise of dignity and the lived reality of retirement.

Goliath’s curse

A new book traces the rise and fall of both ancient to modern civilisations with worrying implications for a world increasingly dominated by aggressive authoritarian states such as Russia, China and – lamentably – the USA.

Accountability and dissent in a just society

Freedom demands that people be able to speak without disproportionate consequences; accountability demands that people be answerable for how their words affect others. Neither principle can be realised without the other.

Bridging generations to build a better future

As Australia navigates demographic pressures, workforce shortages, rising loneliness, and increasing demand for care, one truth is becoming impossible to ignore: our systems have become age-segregated in a way that no longer serves society.

The 1975 crisis, a republic and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

The 50th anniversary of Gough Whitlam’s dismissal and the stripping of Prince Andrew’s royal status have reopened the debate about whether Australia’s head of state should remain the monarch of the United Kingdom.

Confronting knife crime

Victoria’s machete ban sends an important signal that violent crime cannot be tolerated, but additional police and legal measures will only restore calm to Melbourne’s streets if paired with deeper and sustained investment in social infrastructure.

Young Australians do it tough

Financial insecurity is affecting most young Australians, according to new research from Monash University, adding to worries about housing affordability, AI replacing jobs, and the environmental crisis.

Build to rent to own

As the housing crisis continues to bite, a new build-to-rent-to-own model could give residents an ownership stake in their build-to-rent development without a deposit or bank loan for as little as ten dollars a week.

Australia in the crosshairs

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation has warned that sophisticated hackers backed by foreign governments are targeting Australian infrastructure such as telecommunications and airports.

Name badges help protect retail staff from customer abuse

A QUT team has found that simple personalised “under badges” worn by frontline retail staff can make them more relatable and significantly reduce verbal abuse from customers.

Are people resigned to losing data privacy?

Governments and corporations are collecting ever more personal information on us all to control our lives and bombard us with advertising but most citizens and consumers don’t seem to care.

Unpacking Victoria’s Statewide Treaty Bill

Despite the defeat of the Federal voice referendum, the State Parliament of Victoria has passed a Treaty Bill which will create a costly legal and bureaucratic tangle that is unlikely to improve the lives of Indigenous people.