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  • Shining a spotlight into dark corners of government corruption

    Christine Lagarde     |      April 23, 2018

    Anti-corruption strategies require broader regulatory and institutional reforms and so the IMF Executive Board has just endorsed a new framework for stepping up engagement on governance and corruption in its member countries.

  • Will Australia defend the ‘rules-based order’ in Asia?

    Nick Bisley     |      April 23, 2018

    The heated and polarised debate about the consequences of China’s increasing military assertiveness has raised doubts about the future of the ‘rules-based order’ in the region, as invoked by the Turnbull government in numerous speeches and policy statements.

  • The limits of modelling – Knowing what we don’t know

    Emma White     |      April 22, 2018

    Modelling the impact of mine developments on groundwater is critical for protecting ecosystems and agriculture, but it can go astray if we don’t recognise that all models lack certainty.

  • Understanding the social consequences of chronic back pain

    Elizabeth Cummings     |      April 22, 2018

    Efforts to help people who suffer from chronic back pain must acknowledge their diminished sense of functional capability and encourage them to accept help from others without damaging their sense of self worth.

  • #OurTimeNow: Pacific feminists create new spaces to talk and to be heard

    Jane Alver     |      April 22, 2018

    Civil organisations and alliances play a crucial role in advocating for a more inclusive approach in policy making around the world. Initiatives such as the Pacific Feminist Forum have made a significant impact by enabling a wide range of voices to be heard.

  • Hacking the reef

    Open Forum     |      April 21, 2018

    Queensland’s innovation festival Myriad is hosting a ground-breaking creative think tank today to find solutions to the problem of plastics and other marine debris despoiling the Great Barrier Reef.

  • Big questions, bright futures

    Alan Finkel     |      April 21, 2018

    The Chief Scientist reflects on the culture and ethos of science in Australia and what it means to be a scientist in the twenty-first century.

  • Is “low carb” beer really better for you?

    Open Forum     |      April 21, 2018

    “Low carb” beer is widely advertised but its implied health claims are smoke and mirrors. Health groups are calling for nutrition info panels on alcohol to help make the public make more informed consumption choices.

  • Aid, influence and ‘strategic anxiety’ in the Pacific

    Nicola Baker     |      April 21, 2018

    Australia is concerned about China’s increased engagement with the South Pacific. However, while Australia does have a long history of fretting about great-power intrusion into the region, its concerns may also be influenced by alliance considerations.

  • Naming and shaming the unshameable

    Fergus Hanson     |      April 20, 2018

    In the light of escalating cyber attacks from Russia, China and other hostile actors, the West is taking a more proactive approach to naming the perpetrators and taking active counter-measures.

  • The threatened species in our urban jungle

    Kylie Soanes     |      April 20, 2018

    Far from being a biodiversity wasteland, our sprawling conurbations are home to some of Australia’s most threatened species. While some have already been lost, others can still be nurtured to maintain a toe-hold for nature in an increasingly man-made environment.

  • Myths and misconceptions about organ donation

    Open Forum     |      April 20, 2018

    Organ donation saves lives but research by the Organ and Tissue Authority suggests that a range of common myths and misconceptions are holding Australians back from helping others after their death.