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Is Australia ‘giving away’ its natural resources?
Speaking on ABC’s Q&A on Monday night, Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz claimed Australia was “giving away its natural resources”, something he found “mind-boggling”. He said that if Australia made the fossil fuel industry pay for the value of the resources it extracts and its fair share of taxes, “you wouldn’t have the problems that you have today”. Stiglitz appeared to be referring to our profits-based petroleum resource rent tax, also known as the “gas tax”. Having formally researched and advised specialist forums on this issue for many years, I agree with him that yes – we are giving away our wealth,...
Politics With Michelle Grattan: Andrew Wilkie says government ‘scared stiff’ of gambling companies
Gambling reform has become a major issue of tension for the government as it prepares to respond to a cross-party committee inquiry led by former Labor member, the late Peta Murphy. The inquiry’s report, released last year, unanimously recommended a ban on gambling advertising within three years. There is strong public and backbench support within Labor for a ban, but the government fears the consequences it would have on free-to-air TV. It is set to release a compromise position within weeks. Joining the podcast is Independent member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie. Wilkie has advocated for gambling reform during his entire political career, including...
Why did Japan’s prime minister decide to step down? And who might replace him?
In a surprise announcement, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said today he would step down as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) next month, bringing his premiership to an early end. Since coming to office in October 2021, Kishida has struggled to overcome dire approval ratings. The party has been dogged by revelations of ties to the Korean-based Unification Church in the wake of the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022, as well as a political fundraising scandal uncovered last November. Kishida dissolved his own powerful faction in the party and pressured the largest conservative...
Are the latest NAPLAN results really an ‘epic fail’?
On Wednesday, Australia woke up to a barrage of reports about the latest NAPLAN results. Media coverage described an “epic fail”, “plummeting” performances and a “bleak picture”. Education experts spoke of “grim reading”, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the results “alarming”. But many of these analyses are misguided and unhelpful. Read more: Are Australian students really falling behind? It depends which test you look at What were the results? NAPLAN tests Year 3, 5, 7 and 9 students...
Is it OK for kids to lift weights? At what age and how heavy? Here’s what parents need to know
Exercise is excellent for kids. Kids who exercise are fitter, stronger, and less likely to be overweight or obese. They have better physical and mental health, perform better in the classroom, and are more likely to exercise as an adult. In short, the more exercise they do now, the better. But what about weight training? If you’ve ever spent much time in the comments section of social media posts featuring kids lifting weights, you’ll know debate rages about whether or not it’s safe for children. Unfortunately, there are still many myths about weight training and kids. The research evidence suggests it’s safe, as...
Lists of ‘eligible supports’ could be a backwards step for the NDIS and people with disability
What should or shouldn’t be funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme? You might think having a list of things that are “in” or “out” seems like a pragmatic way to contain the costs of the NDIS. But a lengthy government proposed list of exclusions could force people with disability to use more costly services. It might also exclude people from mainstream services and force them into institutionalised settings such as group homes and respite centres. This is contrary to the intent of the NDIS – to promote the participation and inclusion of people with disability in the community –...
Earth’s oldest, tiniest creatures are poised to be climate change winners – and the repercussions could be huge
The world’s oceans are home to microscopic organisms invisible to the human eye. The tiny creatures, known as “prokaryotes”, comprise 30% of life in the world’s oceans. These organisms play an important role in keeping the oceans in balance. But new research by myself and colleagues shows this balance is at risk. We found prokaryotes are remarkably resilient to climate change – and as a result, could increasingly dominate marine environments. This could reduce the availability of fish humans rely on for food, and hamper the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon emissions. A fine balance Prokaryotes include both bacteria and “archaea”, another type of...
A world-first law in Europe is targeting artificial intelligence. Other countries can learn from it
Around the world, governments are grappling with how best to manage the increasingly unruly beast that is artificial intelligence (AI). This fast-growing technology promises to boost national economies and make completing menial tasks easier. But it also poses serious risks, such as AI-enabled crime and fraud, increased spread of misinformation and disinformation, increased public surveillance and further discrimination of already disadvantaged groups. The European Union has taken a world-leading role in addressing these risks. In recent weeks, its Artificial Intelligence Act came into force. This is the first law internationally designed to comprehensively manage AI risks – and Australia and other...
For the love of cinema: what we’re missing from At The Movies, 10 years after its last season
At the Movies was first broadcast on the ABC on July 1 2004, with the final episode broadcast on December 9 2014. Hosted and conceived by Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton, they first began presenting together on SBS’s The Movie Show on October 30 1986, inaugurating one of the most culturally significant collaborations in Australian film culture. Reflecting on the significance of program in this anniversary season, there is much to give present-day readers pause for thought. The last episode of At the Movies brought with it a sense of the end of an era. Academic Huw Walmsley-Evans worried this...
‘Happened to turn Black’: how Donald Trump evoked a history of white authorities using their power to define race
In late July, former President Donald Trump told a room of Black journalists that Vice President Kamala Harris, his rival in the 2024 presidential election, “happened to turn Black” recently. “She was Indian all the way, and then all of a sudden she made a turn […] she became a Black person,” Trump said, prompting surprised laughter from the audience. When asked about Trump’s comments, Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance demurred, saying Harris is a “fundamentally fake person”. Trump’s comments implied that Harris, who is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, is a racial impostor...
Less about climate change, more on reducing migration: here’s what matters most to Australian voters
Just prior to the last federal election in 2022, we surveyed Australians for their views on the important issues facing Australia using the Melbourne Institute-Roy Morgan Taking the Pulse of the Nation Survey, a nationally representative survey of Australian adults. Top on the list were health care, open and honest government, economic stability, and housing affordability. The 2022 federal election then saw a change in government. The survey asked Australians the same question in May 2024. While Australians still consider health services, economic stability, housing affordability, and open and honest government as the top four issues facing Australia, the magnitude of...
Harris’ lead over Trump continues to increase in US national and swing state polls
The United States presidential election will be held on November 5. In analyst Nate Silver’s aggregate of national polls, Democrat Kamala Harris leads Republican Donald Trump by 46.8–43.7 with 3.9% for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In my previous US politics article on August 5, Harris led Trump by 45.5–44.1. Joe Biden’s final position before his withdrawal as Democratic candidate on July 21 was a national poll deficit against Trump of 45.2–41.2. By the election, Biden will be almost 82, Trump will be 78 and Harris will be 60. The US president isn’t elected by the national popular vote,...
No, your aches and pains don’t get worse in the cold. So why do we think they do?
It’s cold and wet outside. As you get out of bed, you can feel it in your bones. Your right knee is flaring up again. That’ll make it harder for you to walk the dog or go to the gym. You think it must be because of the weather. It’s a common idea, but a myth. When we looked at the evidence, we found no direct link between most common aches and pains and the weather. In the first study of its kind, we found no direct link between the temperature or humidity with most joint or muscle aches and pains. So why...
Air New Zealand won’t be the last company to miss its climate goals – here’s why
Air New Zealand’s recent decision to abandon its short-term climate target raises the question of how many other businesses might follow. The airline withdrew from the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi), the leading global body for the private sector to set and validate climate targets. SBTi currently lists 24 New Zealand businesses which have set at least some targets and 11 which made a commitment but are yet to set or have their targets validated. Most of the New Zealand businesses with targets are large companies in industries such as telecommunications and electricity generation. Other examples include well-known businesses such...
Does free-to-air TV really need gambling ads to survive?
If anything is a sure bet right now, it’s corporate Australia’s willingness to use some variation of the “for society’s good” argument. The most recent example of this is the claim being made, including by federal minister Bill Shorten, that an outright ban on gambling advertising would be disastrous for free-to-air TV. To be clear, Labor still supports new restrictions on gambling advertisements, including hourly caps and bans during kids’ TV and during and around sports broadcasts. But it has rejected the idea of a total ban, prompting a backlash extending as far as some of its own backbench MPs. Speaking on...
NAPLAN results again show 1 in 3 students don’t meet minimum standards. These kids need more support
The latest national NAPLAN results are out and the results are very similar to last year. In both 2023 and 2024 we have seen about one in three school students fall short of minimum numeracy and literacy expectations and about one in ten needing additional support. What does this mean? What is NAPLAN? Introduced in 2008, NAPLAN is an annual test of all Australian students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9. It aims to see whether students are developing basic skills in literacy and numeracy. Students receive one of four bands: “needs additional support,” “developing,” “strong” and “exceeding”. Schools have been...
Raygun is now Australia’s most famous dancer. What does she reveal about our own attitudes towards dance?
The inclusion of breaking in the 2024 Olympic Games certainly raised eyebrows. And now, Australian competitor Rachael Gunn (known as “Raygun”) is one of the most famous Olympians from any nation – as well as Australia’s most famous dancer. Her performance generated an onslaught of (often negative) social media memes, comments and bullying. However, her teammates showed their support, with Australian rower Angus Widdicombe even carrying Gunn on his shoulders on the day of the closing ceremony. Raygun’s Olympic story offers the chance for Australians to examine their attitudes towards dance. For instance, was her dancing so out of place in a...
Is it OK to lie to someone with dementia?
There was disagreement on social media recently after a story was published about an aged care provider creating “fake-away” burgers that mimicked those from a fast-food chain, to a resident living with dementia. The man had such strict food preferences he was refusing to eat anything at meals except a burger from the franchise. This dementia symptom risks malnutrition and social isolation. But critics of the fake burger approach labelled it trickery and deception of a vulnerable person with cognitive impairment. Dementia is an illness that progressively robs us of memories. Although it has many forms, it is typical for short-term recall...
Indigenous science can help solve some of the great problems of our time. Here’s how
Australia has committed to elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge as one of five national priorities in science and research. This comes as part of the National Science Statement released on Monday by the Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic. The statement signals the national priorities that will shape investment and policy across research and development over the next decade. Australian research already punches above its weight. The statement notes we produce 3.4% of the world’s research with just 0.33% of the world’s population. So how can we accelerate our impact? Indigenous knowledge systems are a national strength. The history...
Wild genes in domestic species: how we can supercharge our crops using their distant relatives
Food security is shaping up as one of the biggest challenges we face globally. In some places, access to food has steadily deteriorated in recent years, due to wars, inflation and climate-driven extreme weather. The cost of basic foods such as eggs and vegetables has made news worldwide. Food price inflation is now ahead of overall inflation in over half the world’s nations. The obvious answer is to grow more crops, especially the energy-dense top six – rice, wheat, corn, potatoes, soybeans and sugarcane. Unfortunately, it’s getting harder to produce food due to conflict, more extreme weather such as flash...
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