Latest Story
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The US Alliance – Our dependence grows as our options narrow
Kim Beazley | May 3, 2018Australia’s dependence on the United States in the post–Cold War era has grown as the strategic options in our region have narrowed. Our national strategy of ‘defence self-reliance within our alliances’ is now being tilted by major shifts in power relativities and US engagement
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We can change our brain and its ability to cope with disease with simple lifestyle choices
Yen Ying Lim | May 3, 2018Lifestyle factors such as meditation can change our brain for the better while physical activity can induce a cascade of biological processes that improve function of brain regions responsible for memory and decision making.
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Trees improve our lives – and save cities money
Theodore Endreny | May 2, 2018Trees are keystone species in the urban ecosystem. They clean the air and water, reduce stormwater floods, improve building energy use and mitigate climate change. Trees make people’s lives more liveable and save cities money.
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Australia should be a regional leader on youth, peace and security
Helen Berents | May 2, 2018The UN-led Youth, Peace and Security agenda highlights the benefits of working with youth to address violence and insecurity globally. Australia’s foreign policy is behind the curve when it comes to recognising and partnering with young people for positive change.
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The beauty of a both/and mind
Michael Edwards | May 2, 2018How can we find our way out of the impasse that stymies action on the really big issues of the day? Cultivating a ‘positive sum’ mind may be the key to more imaginative and inclusive thinking.
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Migration continues to reshape Australia
Open Forum | May 1, 2018Population growth and distribution affect most areas of public policy and a new Treasury paper examines the benefits that skilled migration brings to Australia, while also accepting its challenges.
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Gonski review calls for a fresh approach to improve Australia’s schools
Michelle Grattan | May 1, 2018The newly published Gonski review attacks the quality of current Australian schooling and urges a more dynamic and individualised teaching approach to ensure our children reach their full potential.
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Australia embraces organic food
Open Forum | May 1, 2018New findings released by Australian Organic, the organic industry’s leading body, show an uptake in household food shopping allocated to organic produce and goods, with now more than 6 in 10 Australian households claiming to buy organic in any given year.
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Why doctors can struggle to understand pain
Karen Sibert | April 30, 2018Everyone experiences pain in a different way, from both an emotional as well as a physical perspective. This reality means that physicians should evaluate patients on an individual basis to find the best way to treat their pain symptoms.
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‘Anna Karenina’ and modern marriage
Richard Gunderman | April 30, 2018Each character approaches marriage with a different set of expectations in Leo Tolstoy’s ‘Anna Karenina’ and many succumb to disappointment. As the Royal Wedding approaches, what can one of the world’s greatest novels teach us about marriage today?
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Understanding university drop-out rates
Open Forum | April 30, 2018More than 50,000 students who started university in Australia this year will drop out, according to a new Grattan Institute report. However not every incomplete degree should be seen as a waste of time and money.
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When muscles trump morals: The politics of ‘manliness’
Stephanie Lawson | April 29, 2018Donald Trump openly boasts about his power over women and his political opponents, but what role does this ‘macho’ approach leave for morality in leadership?
