Tougher penalties dominate the politics of youth crime, but without addressing how young people – particularly First Nations children – learn, relate and develop, punishment risks deepening the very problems it seeks to solve.
Category: Policy
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Pope 1, Trump 0 – Message from the Editor
You think things can’t get any worse and then they do! (more…)
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Cost of living? We should be more concerned about something else
While cost-of-living pressures dominate headlines, deeper shifts are reshaping Australian politics – with Labor consolidating the centre and the Coalition struggling to respond.
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Populism grows where inequality is ignored
Populism is often dismissed or ridiculed, but its rise reflects decades of policy choices that have deepened inequality and left many Australians behind.
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A culture of secrecy is taking hold in Canberra
The refusal to release the Pezzullo investigation report highlights a culture of secrecy across the public service and government.
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Unwinding the capital gains tax folly
Tax concessions on property and capital gains have driven housing inequality and distorted the market, and fixing them requires structural reform – not Budget tinkering. (more…)
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Reform requires trust – and trust requires openness
Economic reform depends on public trust – and that trust is being undermined by declining transparency, weak accountability and limited public engagement.
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Australia’s under-16 social media ban is facing early limits
Australia’s under-16 social media ban has removed millions of accounts, but compliance gaps, loopholes and unanswered questions remain. (more…)
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The fuel crisis won’t save the Coalition. It might finish them
Cost-of-living pressure will not automatically shift votes to the Coalition, as culturally aligned voters begin drifting toward alternatives that project conviction and stability. (more…)
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Fuel crisis exposes decades of policy failure
Australia’s fuel crisis may have been triggered by global conflict – but it reflects decades of political failure to reduce oil dependence and plan for transition.
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When charity no longer means need
Australia’s charitable framework now rewards compliance over need, allowing well-resourced institutions and contested activities to sit alongside genuine relief of disadvantage.
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Labor’s caution is becoming a barrier to progress
A political culture of caution and bipartisanship is limiting the government’s ability to act on major issues including human rights, climate and social cohesion. (more…)
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Half the truth: defending public education requires more honesty, not less
Criticism of public schools is not entirely wrong – but by ignoring unequal conditions, it misdiagnoses the problem and misplaces responsibility.
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Tax reform isn’t enough – Australia needs an economic reset
Tax reform is necessary, but on its own it cannot fix an economy shaped by housing speculation, resource dependence and weak productivity. (more…)
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Environment: Industry’s carbon capture fantasy is climate action’s nightmare
Carbon capture and storage continues to fail for the climate but keeps fossil fuels and profits flowing. Renewables are taking over the US power system despite Trump.
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Batteries and electrification buy time on gas
Falling gas demand and a surge in batteries and electrification have delayed forecast supply shortfalls – but only for now.
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Underfunded public schools, overfunded private ones – the gap grows
Private schools are pulling further ahead as funding policies deepen inequality across Australia’s education system. (more…)
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Free speech and antisemitism: drawing the line
In this extract from his submission to the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion Gareth Evans argues that it is crucial that protest language claimed to be inherently antisemitic be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account context and intent. (more…)
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Budget savings for Chalmers – fix the bloated pay system at the top of the public service
As the government looks for budget savings, the biggest opportunity lies at the top. Senior public service pay and structures have become costly, inconsistent and hard to justify.
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The lies that fuel war
The Albanese government’s support for the US–Israel war on Iran rests on claims about nuclear threat, humanitarian intent and non-involvement that do not withstand scrutiny.
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The most liberal of Judges – Anthony Mason
Beyond his landmark judicial legacy, Anthony Mason’s later advocacy for a bill of rights and a republic remains a powerful challenge to Australia’s political conservatism.
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The Strategic Examination of R&D: can Australia’s innovation system reform itself?
A major new review sets out a coherent plan to reform Australia’s innovation system. But the real challenge is not design – it’s whether the government can afford and deliver it.
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Climate denial has deep roots in Coalition politics
From Howard to Abbott, senior Coalition figures have repeatedly dismissed climate science – favouring belief over evidence and weakening public debate.
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Power prices set to fall as renewables ease pressure on the grid
Electricity prices are set to fall across Australia’s main grid, with the regulator pointing to increased renewable energy and storage as key drivers – though global risks remain. (more…)
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Another High Court rebuke on immigration laws – and a warning on rushed policymaking
A new High Court ruling has struck down the Albanese government’s restrictions on former immigration detainees – exposing the risks of rushed, politically driven lawmaking. (more…)
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A bold plan to fix Australia’s research and innovation system – but will it deliver?
A major review calls for sweeping reform of Australia’s research and innovation system – but questions remain about delivery, priorities and impact. (more…)
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Bill Shorten’s university proposal breaks the deadlock – but design will decide its value
Bill Shorten’s proposal for a university fund tackles a long-standing funding problem – but its impact will depend on how it is designed and delivered.
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Wartime resilience already exists in multicultural Australia
As fuel and supply pressures build, multicultural Australia offers practical lessons in restraint, cooperation and resilience – but policy has yet to catch up. (more…)
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Private health insurance isn’t working – and the numbers show it
Premiums are rising far faster than official increases, coverage is narrowing and hospitals are under strain – Australia’s private health model is failing. (more…)
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ACT justice system on the brink from chronic underfunding
Legal Aid, prosecutors and the courts are all under pressure, raising concerns about fairness, workload and the effective operation of the ACT justice system. (more…)