• Environment

    The battle of the coral sea


    Open Forum |  September 21, 2021


    The loss of 50% of the world’s coral reefs since 1950 has led to an equally significant loss in the ability of reefs to support the food and livelihoods of indigenous peoples.


  • Defence and Security

    Australia signs up to the Anglosphere


    Allan Gyngell |  September 21, 2021


    The new submarine agreement is a big Australian bet on the future of the United States, and at a more uncertain time in American politics than at almost any point in the history of the alliance.


  • Health

    Behind the scenes with the Chief Health Officers


    Patrick Harris |  September 19, 2021


    Day to day media coverage of the Coronavirus epidemic misses the nuances of the role of State Chief Health Officer beyond reading out case numbers. This is what we found when we spoke to them.


Latest Story

  • No ‘Freedom Day’ for Australia just yet

    Open Forum     |      September 8, 2021

    Patchy uptake of COVID-19 vaccines across cities and regions means Australia’s public health measures are likely to continue well into next year, with a leading epidemiologist predicting the country will achieve tolerable disease control by early 2022.

  • Changing notions of social cohesion

    Gillian Savage     |      September 8, 2021

    Our basis for thinking about social cohesion in Australia continues to be embedded in traditional multiculturalism. It is yet to catch up with the digital world where cyberhate, foreign interference and violent extremism thrive.

  • Understanding Australia’s tax concessions to attract overseas talent

    Anton Lucanus     |      September 8, 2021

    Australian expats abroad are currently paying tax to foreign tax authorities. They have suddenly become the focus for Australia’s 2021-22 Federal Budget.

  • Island encounters

    Lisa Palmer     |      September 7, 2021

    East Timor won its hard-fought independence from Indonesia almost 20 years ago, and a new book explores this fascinating country.

  • Teens need the COVID-19 jab for herd immunity

    Open Forum     |      September 7, 2021

    James Cook University scientists have developed a new model to track the COVID-19 pandemic – and it’s telling them Australia should now prioritise delivering the Pfizer vaccine to 12-40 year-olds.

  • Eat lead

    Jordan Hampton     |      September 6, 2021

    Lead ammunition poses a threat to all scavenging wildlife but risks are further heightened in scavenging birds because their mobility and foraging strategies contribute to potential exposure.

  • Sport for all

    Ruth Jeanes     |      September 6, 2021

    Widening the types of sports and participation that are supported and valued in policy and society will mean these benefits are more widely available for all.

  • Boosting trade with India

    Dipen Rughani     |      September 6, 2021

    Former Australian prime minister and Special Trade Envoy Tony Abbott’s recent visit to India has brought the long-suspended Free Trade agreement (FTA) — officially known as the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) — back into focus.

  • Platypus to return to Australia’s oldest national park

    Sherry Landow     |      September 6, 2021

    UNSW Sydney scientists are leading a project to bring the iconic mammal back to the Royal National Park in Sydney’s south 50 years after a chemical spill wiped out the local population.

  • Introducing OzSAGE – practical advice for reopening Australia

    Richard Holden     |      September 6, 2021

    OzSAGE’s first recommendations deal with ventilation and the measures that will have to accompany widespread vaccination.

  • Climate activism requires a nuanced security response

    John Coyne     |      September 5, 2021

    Governments can ill afford to ignore climate protests or treat them in a heavy-handed manner. It’s time for genuine public discourse on this issue before the situation deteriorates and further erodes social cohesion.

  • Back to the future

    Rowan Callick     |      September 5, 2021

    Xi Jinping dominates China’s Communist Party as completely as Chairman Mao before him, but as he eyes an invasion of Taiwan and ever greater global power, he may struggle to take a younger generation along with him.