• Society

    The barbarians inside the gates


    Jason Beale |  July 2, 2020


    Urban protests against the death of George Floyd in the USA have metastasized into a wider assault against western culture and history, with figures from Winston Churchill to Captain James Cook feeling protestors’ ill-informed wrath.


  • Education

    How COVID-19 challenged PhD students


    Khandakar Al Farid Uddin |  July 2, 2020


    A new survey of Australian PhD research students finds that 90% said the pandemic had affected their continuing research, while 70% thought their planned research outcome would be severely affected.


  • Security

    Walking the walk


    Michael Shoebridge |  July 2, 2020


    The new force structure plan sets a clear direction for Australia’s military that engages with the new world we are living in. It positions Australia to resist coercion and deter conflict but now the hard work of implementation must begin.


Latest Story

  • 7 lessons for Australia’s health system

    Stephen Duckett     |      June 22, 2020

    In a report released today, the Grattan Institute outlines seven key lessons that can help make the health system more effective, efficient and equitable, and better able to deal with future crises.

  • Why business backs the humanities

    Susan Forde     |      June 22, 2020

    Understanding the humanities, social sciences and human communication holds the key to a viable future, and increasing the price of such degrees could hit our business competitiveness.

  • Saving our cities from the return of the car

    John Stone     |      June 22, 2020

    The best way to minimise congestion as the economy recovers is to improve commuters’ public transport options, rather than trying to price congestion away, and allow it to operate more effectively while still offering room for on-board social distancing.

  • What price the arts?

    Open Forum     |      June 21, 2020

    Government proposals to increase the cost of arts and humanities degrees to encourage more students to study STEM and vocational subjects have not found favour with University arts departments.

  • Taking off the red-tinted glasses

    Andrew Forrest     |      June 21, 2020

    The advocates of closer economic relations with China have dominated the debate for years, but China’s ever more outrageous behaviour is forcing even its most blinkered apologists to come to grips with reality.

  • 6 ways to bring back the Australian economy

    Victoria Tichá     |      June 21, 2020

    The government faces a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rebuild and reshape Australia’s economy for the better as the nation recovers from the COVID-19 lockdown.

  • What’s good, computer?

    Jon McCormack     |      June 20, 2020

    Imagine a time in the not-too-distant future when the majority of your media is both selected and generated for you personally by artificial intelligence (AI) systems. 

  • Burn-in: a novel of the real robotic revolution

    John T. Watts     |      June 20, 2020

    If you’d enjoy a thoughtful exploration of the complex implications oft technology in national security, this book will be well worth your time.

  • A new partnership could revitalise our universities

    Michael Shoebridge     |      June 20, 2020

    The time is right for a new discussion between the government and universities on the future of the sector to re-establish the centrality of our universities for Australia’s wellbeing, prosperity and security.

  • The branch-stacking scandal: How the fourth estate safeguards Australian democracy

    Liam Lander     |      June 19, 2020

    Traditional media outlets have suffered as a result of COVID-19, but the recent revelations of corruption within the Victorian Labor Party by investigative journalists underlines once again the vital role they play in protecting our democracy.

  • How can business leaders accelerate digital transformation?

    Dawn Lo     |      June 19, 2020

    A UNSW organisational change expert says there are several vital considerations business leaders must be clear on before they embark on a journey of digital transformation.

  • Time for a new union accord?

    Tim Harcourt     |      June 19, 2020

    Can the PM take a leaf from Bill Kelty’s book on industrial relations reform and bring the trade union movement together through social solidarity?