• Society

    Confronting anti-semitic terrorism in Australia


    Michael Pezzullo |  February 9, 2025


    The spate of attacks on Jewish people and properties in Australian cities, and the threat of an even more serious terrorist atrocity in the future, demands a firm and coordinated response from the Australian people, as well as its government, police and security services.


  • Science and Technology

    Misunderstanding the butterfly effect


    Milad Haghani |  February 9, 2025


    Over the next 50 years, the so-called “butterfly effect” captivated the public imagination. It has appeared in movies, books, motivational and inspirational speeches, and even casual conversation but most of its users misunderstand the point it is making.


  • Culture

    The joys of literary journeys


    Edwina Preston |  February 9, 2025


    The best way to travel the world can be with the help of a few good books from the comfort of one’s armchair.


Latest Story

  • Uncategorised

    Opportunities in existing suburbs

    Simon Merrigan     |      October 1, 2008

    The substantial, but gradual re-development of the middle suburbs to a density that makes better use of land and allows for existing members of the community to remain in an area provides the best immediate opportunity for an increase in affordable housing.

  • A tax for everything

    alison gordon     |      September 30, 2008

    If we want to encourage more people to enter the housing market, there needs to be some incentive for them to do so.

  • Uncategorised

    Mentors and role models

    Kate Rimer     |      September 29, 2008

    Flexibility is not just a women's issue, but the lack of support and outright antagonism from some senior women does not help the cause for change and continues to be a great disappointment.

    In my last two blogs on Open Forum I talked about some of the challenges and support I received as I navigated the straights of a challenging career and motherhood.

    In this last piece, I would like to talk briefly about the roles of mentors in managing work/life issues and flexibility, which we will come back to later. I have managed to combine work and family through the support of some key people, especially the mentors I have had along the way.

  • Uncategorised

    The Rise in Consumerisation of IT

    Craig Scroggie     |      September 28, 2008

    Employees are bringing their mobile devices to work and expect IT to support them.

  • Uncategorised

    Adding cost through the duplication of regulation

    Chris Lamont     |      September 26, 2008

    It is not uncommon for houses built on either side of the street to have differing obligation and regulations imposed.

  • Uncategorised

    Survey Results now available!

    JoeyPin     |      September 25, 2008

    Dear Openforum members and guests, Please be advised that the results to the Social Justice Survey project entitled "Houses and Humpies" is now complete. A great big 'Thank you' to all who participated. The completed surveys were received successfully by us, and they were all of great instrumental value and insight to the project contributor. […]

  • Uncategorised

    The Hot Tip

    sally.rose     |      September 24, 2008

    Leaving a tip is a much more compicated transaction than you may have ever imagined as poor regulation has created a moral minefield that needs to be carefully navigated.

  • Uncategorised

    More than just lip-service

    Anne Summers     |      September 23, 2008

    It is great to see women’s employment issues and problems – such as lack of equal pay, lack of child care, lack of paid maternity leave – finally being acknowledged and put back onto the political agenda.

    While in my last blog I suggested the government has done well in promoting women to senior roles in cabinet, it is important that it does not commit the mistake of typecasting women as mothers, thus alienating those who have yet to have kids, or whose kids have already grown. 

    I was disappointed that the Rudd government decided not to reverse the previous government’s downgrading of the women’s policy advice function from the Prime Minister’s department to the welfare area.

    As you will recall, the Howard government not only downgraded the Office of the status of Women but also changed its name – to the Office for Women. We lost our power – and our status. 

  • Uncategorised

    The Great Game Mark II

    Warren Reed     |      September 17, 2008

    Immortalised by Kipling in 1901, at a time when Central Asia was seen by many strategists as the geopolitical centre of the world, now, in the early part of another century, 'The Great Game' is on again.

  • Uncategorised

    An Image Makeover for Regulation

    Peter Fritz     |      September 17, 2008

    To foster better regulation the first thing we need to do is to change our attitude.

  • Uncategorised

    Why I learned to love regulation

    patrickcallioni     |      September 17, 2008

    In our time, we cannot wait for hundreds of years while the rules evolve to suit our requirements; we cannot even wait decades, largely because of the speed of technological development and its social, economic and cultural consequences.

  • Uncategorised

    A Fairer Approach to Risk Equalisation

    John Rashleigh     |      September 17, 2008

    Managed well, Risk Equalisation has an important social role to play in ensuring health insurance is available to all Australian citizens, alleviating considerable pressure from the public purse.