Latest Story
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Cut red tape to help innovation
Peter Strong | May 30, 2012How can policy makers help small and medium business to innovate?
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Evil triumphant or a revolt at the PNG palace?
Jonathan Ritchie | May 28, 2012The battle between Papua New Guinea’s government and its judiciary has triggered a parliamentary move for a state of emergency in Port Moresby. Jon Ritchie says it’s important that PNG doesn’t stage its own brutal Arab Spring.
Addressing deaths at sea
Vince Scappatura | May 27, 2012Our concern for the welfare of asylum seekers seems to start once they have reached our shores. But Vince Scappatura says that with hundreds dying on the journey to Australia, we need to do more to prevent deaths at sea.It is often argued that a more compassionate response to boat arrivals only serves to put more lives at risk by encouraging asylum seekers to board leaky boats. A tough border protection policy is therefore viewed as the more humane approach because it discourages people from making such a dangerous journey.
Third party certified sustainable seafood demand on the rise
Patrick Caleo | May 25, 2012Manager of Australia and New Zealand Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Patrick Caleo says that Australian consumers have the power to safeguard fish stocks for this and future generations by choosing certified sustainable seafood.
Healthy oceans are essential for thriving marine ecosystems, livelihoods and economies around the world, however, the world’s oceans are under pressure from human and environmental impacts. With a growing world population and rise in seafood consumption the pressure on seafood resources is escalating.
Here in Australia we’re in a good position. We’re not only blessed with an abundance of quality seafood species to catch and consume, we also have some of the best managed fisheries in the world. This is not to say there isn’t room for improvement.
Say no to a serving of fat talk
Selena Ewing | May 24, 2012Talking about diets and their bodies is a socially accepted way for women to bond. However, Selena Ewing says research shows those casual conversations could have an impact on the way their daughters see their own bodies.
UncategorisedEmphasis on biosecurity
editor | May 23, 2012
The changing global environment means there is a need for a greater emphasis on biosecurity.The Australian Government is developing new legislation to replace the century-old Quarantine Act 1908 to create a responsive and flexible operating environment. The new legislation is designed to manage the risks of animal and plant pests and diseases entering, establishing and spreading in Australia.
It will focus on responsive regulation enabling a system that intervenes where there is a biosecurity risk that needs to be managed and promotes effective cooperation between governments, trading partners, industry participants and the community.
Culture shock real for international students
Vivian Chen | May 23, 2012Moving to any new country can be a difficult journey of adjusting to life in a new environment. Vivian Chen looks at Australian culture through the eyes of an international student.People always say that if you are going to a different country, you should prepare yourself for “cultural shock”.
I did not expect to be shocked after being soaked in western media during my four years study of English in college back in China. However, when I came to Australia to pursue a master degree, the differences came from every aspect of life, no matter how well I thought I knew.
Forms, forms and more forms
Leighton Jenkins | May 21, 2012The World Bank Group ranks Australia the second easiest country in the world in which to start up a new business. Leighton Jenkins believes we could make it even simpler.
In June 2011 the World Bank published an economic ranking table for countries based on how easy it is to do business there.
A high ranking on the ease of doing business index means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. This index averages the country’s percentile rankings on 10 topics, made up of a variety of indicators, giving equal weight to each topic.
Younger generations worth protecting
Ellen Sandell | May 21, 2012The young people of today are not willing to just sit back and inherit the planet older generations want to leave them. Ellen Sandell says across the globe youth-led groups are deeply committed to climate justice for everyone.
The most exciting phase of my life began five years ago, in a dodgy backpackers’ in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne.In a big, stuffy room, thirty leaders of Australia’s national youth organisations sat in a circle, getting to know one another. While we were from incredibly different backgrounds – faith groups, indigenous, young professionals, medical students, environmental and social justice activists – we had one important thing in common: we were young people facing a very uncertain future due to the threat of climate change, and we weren’t going to let our Government and business leaders get away with doing nothing about it.
Brave new thinking in a brave new world II
Malcolm Crompton | May 21, 2012Malcolm Crompton continues his look at the future of data processing policies and how businesses can win the trust of their customers through improved services.
In my last post , I alluded to Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing Next paper and spoke about the need to rebalance the focus in privacy protection focus between user control of data collection and what firms are actually doing with that information so that there is an increased focus on the latter without ever denying the importance of the former.
Loss of biodiversity impacts us all
Susie Burke | May 18, 2012The loss of biodiversity is often seen as an aesthetic issue or something only scientists care about. Dr Susie Burke says her research shows that there are broader implications, including a noticeable decline in human happiness.
I recently presented a submission to the Inquiry into Australia’s Biodiversity in a Changing Climate on behalf of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). It responded to questions about how reduced biodiversity affects human communities and how climate change adaption can be enhanced.
The submission showed that environmental degradation and the accompanying loss of biodiversity have an impact on human health and well-being and only a holistic approach will assist both people and natural environments to adapt to that change.
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