Latest Story
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Servant or partner? The role of expertise in our democracy
Darrin Durant | March 22, 2018Should expert knowledge be limited to providing a servant role in a free society, or elevated to that of a partner? Darrin Durant, a lecturer at Melbourne University, examines the tension between democracy and technocracy.
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Will Queensland’s new land clearing bill save the state’s trees?
Anita Cosgrove | March 22, 2018Will new legislation in Queensland slow rampant land clearing or will farmers and landowners continue to ignore the law or exploit loopholes to raze more of Australia’s fast disappearing forests?
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How Oz politics works
Graeme Dobell | March 22, 2018A twenty year veteran of the Canberra Parliament reporting scene, Graeme Dobell takes a wry look at the cut throat world of Australian politics, a place where you’re always on your own and, in the end, you’ll let everyone down.
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Pursue drug harm reduction, not a punitive response
Deborah Rice | March 21, 2018A Melbourne roundtable organised by Australia21 argues that the social and personal toll of drug use should be tackled through harm reduction measures rather than prosecution and imprisonment.
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Harmony Day – Everyday ways to reduce racial discrimination
Sue Ellson | March 21, 2018March 21st is Harmony Day, a day for both adults and children to celebrate Australia’s diversity and encourage acceptance and understanding across the whole community.
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Humanizing technology
Kaliya Young | March 21, 2018Blockchain expert Kayila Young argues that it’s easier to turn technology in the direction of democracy and social justice when it’s developed with social and emotional intelligence.
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How forests support sustainable cities
Bob Gordon | March 21, 2018While the plight of the Amazon and other tropical forests threatened by clearing and plantations draws headlines, International Forests Day stresses the importance of trees to the world’s conurbations too.
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ASEAN and Australia peer from the summit
Graeme Dobell | March 20, 2018Southeast Asia is where Australia’s geography collides with our economic and perhaps political future. Australia has always thought ASEAN a good thing – the harder question for us is what to do with it.
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More people will be homeless unless we change course
Gavin Wood | March 20, 2018The latest census results prove that governments must reassess their approach to an increasing social problem. While drug abuse, domestic violence and other factors are important, structural problems in the housing market are exacerbating the climb in homeless numbers.
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Global science leaders call for greater action on climate change
Open Forum | March 20, 2018The Australian Academy of Science has joined Commonwealth of Nations science leaders from around the globe to call on the Commonwealth Heads of Government to use the best available science to guide action on climate change.
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Decoding the ASEAN declaration
Greg Earl | March 19, 2018As the ASEAN summit wraps up, the Sydney Declaration has subtly taken Australia’s relationship with its closest Asian neighbours into new territory after a diverse week of engagement from soccer to social entrepreneurs.
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The mundane reality of ‘Think Tanks’
Keshia Jacotine | March 19, 2018Think tanks are a source of both fascination and fear for the media. The reality of efforts to influence policy-making is far more prosaic and think tanks continue to evolve to survive in a changing political landscape.
