The Coalition and One Nation are again targeting Australia’s superannuation system, despite evidence it has reduced pension reliance and warnings that early withdrawals could fuel inflation and weaken retirement savings. (more…)
Category: Politics
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A case for free and fair elections
The High Court has recognised an implied freedom of political communication. The same constitutional principles could support a broader guarantee that Australian elections themselves must be free and fair. (more…)
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Trump is hastening the decline of American power
Trump’s threats against countries trading with Iran expose the limits of US economic power, as allies resist Washington’s demands and the global economy moves towards a less American-dominated order. (more…)
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Netanyahu’s political future is now tied to the genocide in Gaza
Israeli voters are choosing between competing approaches to war and security, while Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank continue to bear the consequences. (more…)
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A visit to the West Bank: social and religious apartheid – part two
In part two of a four-part series, daily life in the West Bank reveals how checkpoints, travel restrictions and controls over religious and cultural life shape Palestinians’ experience of Israeli occupation. (more…)
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Can technology turn China’s demographic decline into an advantage?
China’s shrinking and ageing population is widely seen as an economic threat, but new research suggests labour scarcity can accelerate automation, boost productivity and sustain growth despite a smaller workforce. (more…)
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What 9/11 taught us about coexistence
Twenty-five years after 9/11, divisions over Islam, identity and conflict remain powerful, raising an enduring question about how diverse societies can live together without turning cultural difference into fear and hatred. (more…)
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Work longer, wait longer, now borrow your own retirement back
One Nation’s super-for-housing plan offers immediate relief, but risks repeating a message its new midlife voters know well: solve the problem with your own money. (more…)
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The writers and readers who remind us why P&I matters – Message from the Editor
From superannuation and Gaza to the gig economy – this week’s writers and readers show why independent journalism matters, and why P&I will remain free to read. (more…)
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Turning Crown evidence – a different twist
Documents obtained under freedom of information raise questions about how senior NSW prosecutors came to publicly support DPP Sally Dowling, after being given just 40 minutes to express contrary views. (more…)
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No Kings plans nationwide push to get Americans voting early
The No Kings coalition is planning a fourth nationwide day of action, this time focused on mobilising early voting ahead of the US midterm elections. (more…)
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Civilisation will end not with a bang, but with Attachment B
From hospitals and universities to IT systems, the machinery of compliance meant to reduce risk is increasingly swallowing the work it was designed to support. (more…)
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Why India should keep diversifying its trade
As the global trading system fractures, India can protect its economic and strategic autonomy by expanding trade partnerships, diversifying export markets and resisting deals that constrain relations with other countries. (more…)
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Lower house prices should be welcomed
Restoring home ownership requires substantially lower house prices – and for most existing homeowners, falling property values need not leave them materially worse off. (more…)
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‘Bombshell’ report says Netanyahu was warned before 7 October – and Israel rejected an offer to free civilian captives
An Haaretz investigation says Netanyahu failed to pass on a warning of a major Hamas operation, while Israeli officials later rejected an unconditional offer to release civilian captives. (more…)
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UK bans goods from illegal Israeli settlements in major policy shift
Britain has banned imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and announced further sanctions as pressure grows over settlement expansion and violence against Palestinians.
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Australia faces international criticism for lack of transparency in military trade
Australia’s military exports are growing, but parliament and the public still lack clear information about what is being exported, where it goes and how it is used.
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Australia is under strain – and politics is part of the problem
Financial stress is rising and life satisfaction is falling, but Australians’ discontent runs deeper than household budgets to growing distrust in politics and government.
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Australia’s social media ban has an enforcement problem
New powers will help eSafety investigate whether platforms are enforcing the under-16 social media restrictions, but early evidence suggests the policy’s limits run deeper. (more…)
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Nitrogen pollution is poisoning the planet – and barely anyone is talking about it
Human activity is releasing far more reactive nitrogen than the Earth can safely absorb, damaging climate, biodiversity, human health, soils and oceans. (more…)
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I am a Sydney delivery rider. Here’s what the new minimum wage won’t fix
A new minimum hourly rate is a major improvement for delivery riders, but platform incentives still reward speed, dangerous conditions and risk-taking. (more…)
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Trump ranks himself the greatest president. His record says he’s the worst
Donald Trump rates himself America’s greatest president, but leadership is measured by judgment, responsibility and consequences, not self-regard. (more…)
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“No one really wants to hear what kids think about this stuff”: Young people rely on public protest
This article reflects the views of the two authors, a father and his ‘almost 14-year-old’ son, Sebastian. It includes Sebastian’s direct responses to some of the arguments raised. (more…)
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When scrutiny of China ties becomes a loyalty test
Australia has good reason to scrutinise foreign interference risks, but professional, cultural and community ties should not become proxies for divided loyalty. (more…)
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Pakistan has failed its women amid rising sexual violence
A succession of killings, assaults and sexual violence has exposed the dangers women face across Pakistan – and the failures of institutions meant to protect them. (more…)
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The world is not prepared for the scale of future migration
Climate disruption, conflict, resource scarcity and political instability are driving rising migration, with much larger movements of people likely in coming decades. (more…)
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What kind of country is Australia actually trying to become?
Australia has no shortage of wealth, projects or policy targets. What it lacks is a coherent strategy for building the capabilities its future society will need. (more…)
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One Nation is the symptom. Labor must treat the cause
One Nation’s rise reflects deeper economic insecurity, political alienation and distrust in institutions. Defeating it requires more than condemnation. (more…)
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AI slop is learning to tell us what we want to hear
AI-generated misinformation is not only exploiting anger and fear. Increasingly, it is feeding people comforting stories tailored to their politics and values. (more…)
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Albanese governs with insiders and leaves voters outside the room
The Albanese government may be adept at negotiating with insiders, but its failure to explain decisions and engage voters is deepening public distrust. (more…)