Articles & Opinions
August 2023
Extract: Heat – Life and Death on a Scorched Planet by Jeff Goodell
When heat comes, it’s invisible.
Why Does the RBA Want More Unemployed Aussies?
By chasing an invisible and moving target, the RBA’s theories on unemployment and inflation could jeopardise the jobs of 140,000 Australians.
Another Democracy Agenda reform ticked off
Last week, Education Minister Jason Clare announced that he was going to remove political interference from the Australian Research Council grants process (except for national security concerns). It is a victory for academic freedom, and a testament to the work of Senator Mehreen Faruqi – who proposed the Ensuring Research Independence Bill back in 2018.
Urgent Need for Australia’s Climate Industry Policy
For the first time in decades, Australia is talking about industry policy.
The Voice Will Help Us Discover a Rich History
As Aussies, we can get pretty riled up at the prospect of the destruction of public monuments, historic sites and places we consider important to the fabric of our national culture and identity.
C’mon Albo! Stop Native Forest Logging
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can stop the logging of Australia’s native forests, just as PM Malcolm Fraser stopped whaling in 1978.
For most workers, wages are still failing to keep up with inflation
While overall wages grew in line with inflation in the June quarter for workers in most industries real wages are still going backwards.
Native Forest Logging in Tasmania: The Facts
Tasmania’s native forests are globally recognised for their unique species and conservation value, as well as being some of the most carbon dense forests on the planet.
New political donations laws will help level the playing field and afford fairer elections to all Tasmanians
In June, a joint Parliamentary Committee published recommendations that would significantly reform Australian electoral law.
Multinational miners rue the day Palaszczuk and Dick delivered for Queenslanders
Queensland’s revised coal royalty system has delivered billions to the state, and NSW could be following suit. But as always, the mining industry is keen to let hysteria get in the way of a good policy.
Labor’s climate credibility is melting under the heat of scrutiny
Neoliberals are always worried about government ‘picking winners’, but strangely never seem to have a problem when governments back obvious losers, like perennial failure carbon capture and storage (CCS).
The Voice to Parliament would enhance Australian governance
An Open Letter to the Australian Public
July 2023
We need more than a definition change to fix Australia’s culture of permanent ‘casual’ work
The surprising thing about the Albanese government’s announced reforms to “casual” employment is not that they’re happening.
Inflation is falling so let’s make sure we don’t let unemployment rise
Inflation is coming down fast so we should now shift our attention to making sure unemployment does not rise
Australia’s Climate of Discontent
Australia gives more aid to foreign fossil fuel companies than it does to our neighbours in the Pacific.
You must be coking! Are new coalmines OK if they help make steel?
Some critics argue we should lay off metallurgical coalmines because they’re used for steel, not energy. But that ignores the big picture.
Hollywood actors showing that unity is strength
When workers are united, and able to collectively bargain, they can win good outcomes
The key legislation changes that will help workers get a better deal
In recent years, workers have been held back from demanding better working conditions and pay by a lack of bargaining power.
If the unemployment rises to 4.5% who is likely to lose their job?
The RBA is currently targeting a 4.5% unemployment rate, and that is going to hurt young, low skilled and low paid workers,
More work needed despite launching of National Anti-Corruption Commission
Australia may finally have a national anti-corruption watchdog, but we still have a long way to go to reach genuine accountability and transparency in our system of government.
June 2023
ABC redundancies could harm the public’s trust in the reliable broadcaster
The latest redundancies at the ABC are a cruel blow to public interest journalism and its role in holding the powerful to account.
10 reasons to give to the Australia Institute EOFY appeal
There isn’t long left to double your donation, so here are 10 reasons to give to the Australia Institute’s end of financial year appeal if you can.
Australia’s greenwash plan to host COP31
Labor announced its desire to host a United Nations climate conference in the lead-up to the 2022 election. Officially called the Conference of the Parties, the UN describes its COPs as “the biggest and most important annual climate-related conferences on the planet”. They bring together nation states to negotiate on how best to tackle climate
Bolstered by a biased tax system, house prices keep rising
As interest rates rise, the gains from negative gearing increase.
The Australian War Memorial must remove Ben Roberts-Smith display
The Australian War Memorial is currently displaying the uniform of a soldier found by the federal court, on the balance of probabilities, to be a murderer, war criminal, a bully and a liar.
Blame Game on Inflation has Only Just Begun
Every inflationary episode embodies a power struggle within society over who benefits from inflation, who loses out – and who will bear the cost of getting inflation back down.
The economy is slowing as households get smashed by yet more rate rises
A slowing economy and households closing their wallets is bad news with a Reserve Bank determined to keep raising rates
Native Forest Logging in Tasmania
Tasmania’s native forests are globally recognised for their unique species and their conservation value. They are also some of the most carbon dense forests on the planet.
The level of public housing needs to return to previous levels
Australia needs more housing, and we definitely need more public housing
May 2023
Defence Strategic Review: A case of ‘so much for so little’?
For a document that self-advertises as “the most substantial and ambitious approach to Defence … since the second World War”, the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) is neither.
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