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Some Thoughts on Gov 2.0 in Australia
Andy Williamson | October 30, 2009The Director of the UK Hansard Society’s eDemocracy Programme on the progress of Gov 2.0 in Australia.
It was great to attend the recent CeBit Gov2.0 conference in Canberra. Beforehand, I’d got the feeling that Australia was finally starting to limber up and get moving.
Back in the early days of eDemocracy, it’s safe to say that Australia was a leader. The Queensland government was innovative and original and the Federal Government through the National Office of the Information Economy (NOIE) starting doing some good things too.
Then things stalled.
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When Less is More
Malcolm Crompton | October 28, 2009Last week the Sydney Morning Herald published, “When the small print leaves us all at sea”, a very good article by Annette Sampson. It really got me going.
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UncategorisedInternational Students
sally.rose | October 28, 2009Gang Shen, a Chinese Journalist undertaking postgraduate studies in Australia cautions that nobody likes to feel like Frogs in the Melting Pot. Sue Ellson from the Newcomers Network challenges us to consider how we view International Students, Cash Cows or Lonely Hearts?
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UncategorisedSmall Business Start-Up Stars
editor | October 27, 2009From New York, Karen Wilson talks about what The Kauffman Foundation see as the Challenges Facing Entrepreneurship Education. Closer to home, Peter Fritz tells how indulging a sweet tooth turned into a business opportunity in How I Became a Chocolate Merchant and Olga Sawtell shares her start-up story The Eels Star, the Family Tragedy and the Innovation.
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International Students: Cash Cows or Lonely Hearts?
Sue Ellson | October 26, 2009Australia is fortunate to have an excellent education system that can prepare Aussie students for an international career anywhere in the world without having to go to boarding school during secondary school or a non-English speaking university or tertiary college.
I have been working with newcomers from all backgrounds since 1999.
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Sydney Peace Foundation to Honour John Pilger
Uli Kammerer | October 26, 2009Sydney Peace Prize laureate 2009 John Pilger is internationally known for his uncompromising reporting on human rights abuses and his criticism of dubious governments’ policies. As a journalist he made speaking up against the peddling of Western influence and the oppression of minorities his business. It is most fitting that he be honoured by receiving this distinction.
Amongst other things, Pilger’s work has dealt with Western engagement in Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, East Timor, Cambodia and the humiliation of Aboriginal people in Australia.
"No other filmmaker has consistently exposed the reality of Western governments’ policies”, comments Historian Mark Curtis.
Pilger acts as a mouthpiece for the powerless to be heard and has helped raise the political consciousness of many.
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Frank Brennan’s explosive recommendations
Edward Santow | October 23, 2009This article was originally published by Inside Story on 15 October 2009
You might have heard some small explosions coming from Melbourne last week. Mostly, it was the sound of champagne corks popping, as supporters of an Australian Human Rights Act greeted the release of the much-awaited report of the National Human Rights Consultation.
But not all the noise was in celebration; some of it might well have been the sound of blood vessels bursting among a group of disappointed Human Rights Act opponents.
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Uncategorised
eHealth News
editor | October 22, 2009Should every Australian have their own, portable eHealth record?. That’s the latest question the Department of Health and Ageing are asking on their blog. Visit www.yourhealth.gov.au to be part of their consultation.
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An Asia Pacific Community: an idea whose time is coming
Richard Woolcott | October 21, 2009What is Rudd’s actual proposal, given that although the broad objective is clear, he is still developing his ideas on the detail of the arrangements he would want to pursue?
What was my role as his Special Envoy, and what were the outcomes of my consultations?
What are the next steps to advance the idea of an Asia Pacific community?
This essay addresses these four questions.
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Australian Libertarians Revealed
John.Humphreys | October 20, 2009It seems left-wing economic journalist Ross Gittins has just discovered the word ‘libertarian,’ and the revelation seems to have him spooked.
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Australia losing perspective on Asia
Warren Reed | October 19, 2009Statements like the following from a former Treasury official hardly inspire confidence in Australia’s capacity to stay on top of the Asia game:
