• Society

    Civic patriotism strengthens our democracy


    John Coyne |  May 13, 2026


    Liberal democracies therefore have a strategic interest in cultivating a confident civic patriotism that strengthens social cohesion, reinforces institutional legitimacy and supports national resilience.


  • Economy

    Give us a job


    Sharon Parker |  May 13, 2026


    If worrying about keeping your job has been keeping you up at night, you’re far from alone but despite the threats posed by AI and a potential recession, there are evidence-based things we can do at an individual, organisational and government level to manage job insecurity in uncertain times.


  • Society

    Maxing out


    Tim Smartt |  May 13, 2026


    Counting tokens is one measure of AI activity, which is itself intended as a measure of productivity, which in turn leaves aside the question of what is being produced. Not only is tokenmaxxing a dubious metric in itself, but it may also distort our vision of what actually matters.


Latest Story

  • Censorship of scientists cripples Australian climate debate

    Dr Gideon Polya     |      July 8, 2011

  • Australia to announce carbon tax of $23, say media reports

    PawasArora     |      July 7, 2011

    The Australian government is set to announced a carbon tax of $23 as the government concluded political negotiations with all the parties recently. Prime Minister Julia Gillard had led the negotiations with the Greens and Independents on several issues regarding the proposed carbon tax.

    Among other decisions taken during the negotiations, use of petrol by cars, light vehicles and small businesses has been exempted from the carbon tax. However, heavy commercial vehicles such as trucks have not been exempted. It is expected that public transport might eventually been affected by the carbon tax.

  • Doing Business in Singapore & Australia: Carrot vs Stick

    Michael Coomer     |      July 7, 2011

    Nearly four years ago, I began the process of moving the base of my business from Australia to Singapore, and I haven’t looked back. I am by no means the first person to make the observation that Singapore is a great environment in which to run a company.

  • The fight against corruption: protecting brand Australia

    Matthew Tukaki     |      July 6, 2011

    Possibly, for the first time in the history of business in Australia, we may see a series of prosecutions that specifically look at corrupt misconduct by an Australian organisation and its officials outside of the country.

    Securency International, a maker of Polymer bank notes and partly owned by Australia’s Reserve Bank, is at the centre of a scandal involving tens of millions of dollars across multiple countries.

    At the heart of the allegations lies the intent of officials to use third parties to secure lucrative contracts – in some cases, it would appear third parties who already have dubious reputations when it comes to doing business. While this is not a new event, we have seen bribery and corruption allegations come from the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) and sanction busting in Iraq, what is new is the possibility that these allegations could lead to prosecutions which could lead to convictions.

  • Hints of hypocrisy

    patrickcallioni     |      July 5, 2011

    It is only human to abhor a trait in others which we fear might be alive in oneself. In my case, that is hypocrisy. It is something I watch out for in my own behaviour, generally successfully, though not always.

    Because of that, I have finely developed antennae to help me detect this trait in others. Here are a few examples.

    First, states such as Western Australia and Queensland, which, having been mendicant states for decades, dependent on the charity of others – mainly New South Wales and Victoria – suddenly forget the charity extended to them when they become rich as a result of a geological accident that has given them rich ores to mine and export. In fact, their sin is triple, because it blends ingratitude, hypocrisy and hubris, hubris because they should know that there is no certainty in this world and today’s rich state might be tomorrow’s mendicant state, again.

  • Social Networking: LinkedIn, or left out

    Elise Keeling     |      July 4, 2011

    If your business hasn’t dabbled in social networking sites then chances are you’re missing out on enormous online audiences. 

  • Privacy has made it onto the agenda of world leaders

    Malcolm Crompton     |      June 29, 2011

    It seems to have been a long time coming, but as predicted earlier in Getting closer to Base Camp: the sherpa’s are unpacking the tents, it has arrived.

    Privacy has now been placed on the agenda of the world’s leadership. It has been inching its way there for some time in forums that get very close to the leadership.

  • Chuck Dickens: a good egg

    Josh O'Meara     |      June 20, 2011

  • The myth of a failed Japan

    Warren Reed     |      June 20, 2011

  • Why Australia’s defence needs a shake up

    patrickcallioni     |      June 20, 2011

  • A new ecological theory of digital identity

    StephenWilson     |      June 18, 2011

    Privacy, security and "trust" researchers and policy workers may be interested in my new work "Identity evolves: Why Federated Identity is easier said than done".

    I presented this paper at the AusCERT conference last week (beware, it’s long, but a condensed version is coming).

    See lockstep.com.au/library/identity_authentication/an-ecological-theory-of-digit

    The privacy impacts of federated identity and trendy new "trust ecosystem" models (like the US National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace, NSTIC) are complex. The biggest problem I believe is that many have underestimated the deep changes wrought by federated identity, and how it radically alters traditionally close bilateral relationships and information flows.

  • Uncategorised

    First 5000

    editor     |      June 10, 2011

    First 5000 logoHave you checked out Open Forum’s sister publication First5000.com.auFirst 5000 provides an exclusive networking platform for senior executives from Australian businesses with 20 -199 employees and $10 million+ in annual revenue. Those not eligible for membership can still read the articles and subscribe to the newsletter for free!