Latest Story
-
Accessible taxis missing in action
Tricia Malowney | August 1, 2012Although response times for accessible taxis should be the same as for other taxis it’s not something that is enforced. Tricia Malowney says governments around Australia need to ensure more taxis suit the needs of the disabled.
-
Australia, clever country or nitwit nation?
Donald Meyers | July 31, 2012A lot has changed in Australian tertiary education in the past decades and not all of it has been good for the country, says Donald Meyers. He looks at the impact of reforms on our academic standards.
Prior to 1990, Australian universities enrolled students largely from the top 20% of high school leavers. All degree programs had academic entry requirements.
The “reforms” imposed on universities by the Hawke government in the late 1980s in the name of “access” and “equity” provided the perverse incentive to enrol large numbers of students, irrespective of ability, as the easiest way to generate income. A number of institutions now routinely enrol many students from the bottom half of high school leavers.
-
UncategorisedNational Food Plan aims to secure supply
Lynne Hughes | July 30, 2012
The Australian Government is developing Australia’s first national food plan to foster a sustainable, globally competitive, resilient food supply that supports access to nutritious and affordable food. As part of the process the government has released the National Food Plan green paper, which is now open for public consultation.
The Government aims to focus on the following objectives –
-
National Tree Day plants the seed for better health
Debbie Agnew | July 27, 2012Most of us feel more peaceful and relaxed when we are in a natural setting. But will future generations get to experience the tranquillity of nature? Debbie Agnew calls on us to plant a tree for our children and the planet.
It was back in 1996 when a national day to celebrate and care for Australia’s trees was co-founded by Olivia Newton John and Planet Ark Environmental Foundation. The special day, held each July, has become Australia’s largest tree planting and nature care event and 17 years on, more than 2.8 million volunteers have planted over 17 million native trees and shrubs.
But National Tree Day is more than just an event. It seeks to highlight the important role that native trees play in our lives, not only as an integral part of the environment, but their part in our overall health and wellbeing.
Racism has no place in society or sport
Paul Oliver | July 26, 2012In the past racism in sport has seemed to be more acceptable than racist behaviour in the general community. Paul Oliver says it can no longer be dismissed as just 'good natured sledging'.
What are the public benefits from current sports funding?
John Wilson | July 24, 2012It’s not always easy to measure a return on investment, and when it comes to public money being spent on sport the resulting benefits can be very hard to quantify. John Wilson looks at what the community gains when governments invest in sport.
Is access to left wing journalism now a human rights issue?
Simon Cowan | July 23, 2012As mainstream media around the world tries to fit into the new media environment the generation and sharing of ideas continues in earnest. Simon Cowan how ‘big news’ is being replaced by the decentralised delivery of information and opinion.
Australia plays on the world stage at the Olympics
Daryl Adair | July 20, 2012Will the London Olympics result in national pride or national shame for sports-loving Australians? Ahead of the Olympics Daryl Adair looks at the level of anxiety already surrounding our medal chances.
Australia has a longstanding connection with the modern Olympic Games. Two points illustrate this.
First, only five nations have had representatives at every summer Olympics; Australia is one of them. Second, the Games have only been held in the southern hemisphere twice; the host cities have both been in Australia (Melbourne 1956 and Sydney 2000). This leads to a fundamental question: why has Australia sought to engage so enthusiastically with the Olympics?
Diabetes – the monkey on Australia’s back
Joel Tuccia | July 19, 2012Regular exercise benefits everyone, but physical activity for diabetes patients is about more than getting fit. Joel Tuccia looks at one of Australia's biggest health concerns.
Destination hope – exploring stem cell tourism
Megan Munsie | July 18, 2012Each year hundreds of Australians are spending time and money to travel overseas in search of medical therapies that are unavailable or illegal at home. Megan Munsie says it is important that patients share their experiences so that others can learn from it.
The possibility that stem cells may one day treat ailments such as Macular Degeneration, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes and numerous other conditions has captured the public’s imagination and given hope to many.
Although stem cell research is making progress – with many clinical trials now underway to evaluate new therapies – for those seeking cures, the rate of the progress is frustratingly slow.
Some Australians are not prepared to wait and are choosing to pursue experimental, unproven stem cells treatments abroad – a growing but little understood phenomenon often referred to as stem cell tourism.
