Three ways to shape the future

Pessimism about our ability to address the issues that face humanity is understandable, but there are many signs we’re making progress in a number of ways.

Now for the hard part

The Albanese government is enjoying something of a honeymoon in the Pacific, but it’s unlikely to last as formidable challenges loom, and the inbuilt structural imbalance between Australia and its smaller neighbours will inevitably generate tensions and disappointments.

How the Australian public service really works: policy

Peter McCawley continues his series of articles investigating the nuts and bolts reality behind Australian public policy formation.

The ‘ball tampering’ budget trick they don’t want you to know about

When the Australian cricket team got caught in a ball-tampering racket, the Captain and Vice Captain were banned for a year. Our politicians do something similar, by making promises and hiding how those promises will be paid for, but somehow receive a pass. 

The worried West – Chronic decline or hypochondria?

Being Russian, North Korean or Chinese at this moment in history and watching liberal democracies talk themselves into decline must be odd but satisfying.

Don’t shoot the messenger when confronted with inconvenient ideas

To make progress, we will need to reboot our thinking. We need to focus on evidence and arguments, and on ordinary fairness and compassion to others, even when we disagree.

How Oz politics works

A twenty year veteran of the Canberra Parliament reporting scene, Graeme Dobell takes a wry look at the cut throat world of Australian politics, a place where you’re always on your own and, in the end, you’ll let everyone down.

The mundane reality of ‘Think Tanks’

Think tanks are a source of both fascination and fear for the media. The reality of efforts to influence policy-making is far more prosaic and think tanks continue to evolve to survive in a changing political landscape.

A crisis of trust – The rise of Australian protest politics

Protest politics is on the rise in Australia, and the main cause is collapsing trust in politicians and the major parties, according to a new Grattan Institute report.

Australia deserves a better debate and 5 ‘quick wins’ for ‘wicked’ problems

Australia21 urges politicians to embrace evidence based policy making and engage in constructive discussion of more effective strategies to address inequality, trauma related stress, illicit drugs, the future of work and climate change.

It’s time for an Indigenous Health Purchasing Authority

For governments indigenous health continues to be an intractable policy problem. Author of ‘Indigeneity – a politics of potential’ Dominic O’Sullivan considers the proposal of an Indigenous Health Purchasing Authority.

Manus Island – a firsthand account of a humanitarian crisis

A recent trip to Manus Island left Asylum Seeker Resource Centre’s Jana Favero deeply shocked and confirmed the humanitarian crisis that has developed from Australia’s asylum seeker policies. She shares her experience with Open Forum and calls for an end to partisan politics on this issue.