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November 21, 2008
NSW Premier Nathan Rees’ decision to defer a bipartisan commitment to political donations reform may be a golden opportunity lost.
Domestic Politics - Geoff Wall
 
This is not a time for bureaucratic mumbling but plain, honest speech, of a type that Australians and their leaders were once noted for.
Economics - Bruce Haigh
 
In downturns, politicians should spend more and tax less, but they find it hard to do the right thing.
Economics - Nicholas Gruen
 
It is not only his policies that will need to be taken into account: but what does he allow people to be by who he is?
International - Helen Pringle
 
A protectionist stance for one industry at home only invites pleas from other industries and retaliation abroad.
Economics - Patricia Wruuck
 
There is still that anger and fear among a part of the conservative movement, but something changed with the election.
Society - Walt Brasch
 
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Romance in the digital age

November Feature - Romance in the digital ageWhat's hot and what's not? How has romance changed in the modern era? Are we more demanding? Is love more disposable? What is the role of the Internet? He loves me … he loves me not? ...

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Ambit Gambit It's hard to overestimate the effect of Barack Obama's win. The photo below was taken on the premises of Jensen Bowers, which is where On Line Opinion subleases its office space, and its context speaks volumes about the reach of...

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Thursday, November 20, 2008

Barack Obama's election was symbolic, certainly, but an election landslide it wasn't.
International - Ben-Peter Terpstra - 8 comments
 
Strength is the redeeming virtue in adversity, but modern life has encouraged a nation of self-centred, consumption oriented sheep.
Education - Kellie Tranter - 1 comment
 
Instead of receiving protection and safety, they were detained within Australia’s Pacific Solution before being returned to Afghanistan; a country racked by violence.
Law & Liberties - David Corlett - 9 comments
 
China can stimulate the economy by diffusing the wealth effect, promoting private ownership and entrepreneurship.
International - Zhiwu Chen
 
The minutes of the November RBA Board meeting appear to point towards a further outsized reduction in the official cash rate at next month’s meeting.
Economics - Saul Eslake - 1 comment
 
The idea of relocating Israel to the Kimberley is not so crazy if the cost of the relocation is less than the cost of Israel staying where it is.
International - Brian Holden - 21 comments
 
Australia’s involvement in East Timor partly succeeded because of Indonesia's reluctance to fight a full scale war.
Domestic Politics - Sasha Uzunov - 1 comment
 

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

World wide Anglicanism is in conflict and Sydney is in the midst of it. What that might mean within the diocese is not yet clear.
Religion & Spirituality - Bruce Kaye - 8 comments
 
A ban on pro-anorexia websites promoting extreme thinness and self starvation is neither practical nor moral.
Society - Nina Funnell - 3 comments
 
A Swedish goverment report on climate change reveals good news all round - exotic crops and green business opportunites.
International - Roger Kalla - 11 comments
 
A return to a balanced approach in the Middle East will improve Australia's image in the Arab and Islamic world.
Domestic Politics - Antoun Issa - 6 comments
 
The world can no longer afford the profligate military consumption of carbon products.
Environment - John Tomlinson - 5 comments
 
Uncertainty and change make our lives interesting and give us reasons to get out of bed in the morning.
Society - Peter Tapsell
 
It is with the states that real reform for local government must first happen.
Domestic Politics - Scott Prasser - 3 comments
 

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The Chinese entreaty to act as a 'bridge' between it and the US is flattering but Australia should politely decline the role.
International - John Lee - 3 comments
 
The members of the ACT Assembly have one of the hardest government jobs in the country, straddling two tiers of our federal system.
Domestic Politics - George Williams - 5 comments
 
Brendon Grylls deserves the accolades he and the Nationals are currently basking in, but remember, it is he who is in part responsible for many problems in regional WA.
Domestic Politics - Bernie Masters
 
An Israeli think tank has publicised its concerns regarding the growth of Hamas both politically and militarily in the past three years.
International - Reuben Brand - 4 comments
 
Some of the commentary on Indigenous Affairs in this country has become so poisonous that the very object of the game has been forgotten.
Indigenous Affairs - Graham Ring - 6 comments
 
There are the troubling responses by the public and the media to the multiple, grisly crimes of Graeme Reeves aka 'the butcher of Bega'.
Law & Liberties - Sheleyah Courtney - 14 comments
 

Monday, November 17, 2008

Too often SBS is dismissed as a niche broadcaster, relevant only for ethnics, eggheads and, more recently, revheads.
Media - Ien Ang and Gay Hawkins - 24 comments
 
The Rudd Government's plan for a compulsory amenities fee is the re-introduction of compulsory student unionism in everything but name.
Education - Lorraine Finlay - 23 comments
 
There are solutions to the problem of objectionable content on the Internet other than centralised censorship.
Media - David Jackmanson - 13 comments
 
With the next generation of biofuels, where non-food resources dominate, Australia may be well situated to establish a thriving industry.
Science & Technology - Robin Batterham - 6 comments
 
China is ripping-off African resources and propping up African tyrants to the detriment of the African people.
International - Edward Friedman - 3 comments
 
Obama’s first two crucial appointments represent a denial of the wishes of his supporters on the principal issues on which they voted.
International - John Pilger - 24 comments
 

Friday, November 14, 2008

Free speech is never absolute but there should be vigorous public debate before any shift in freedom of the internet.
Law & Liberties - Antony Loewenstein - 34 comments
 
Kevin Rudd’s heavy hand of authority could see his 'education revolution' become the de-schooling of Australia.
Education - Chris James - 13 comments
 
Australia is the land of opportunity, but only for some. We’re lagging behind in gender equality for some of our newest citizens.
Society - Christina Ho - 19 comments
 
The federal government has granted the Gunns pulp mill an extension until January knowing that Tasmanian permits will end on November 30, 2008.
Environment - Peter Henning - 17 comments
 
Europe and the US could fine-tune aid programs, working closely with recipients, to achieve multiple goals.
International - Gustav Ranis - 3 comments
 
Bankers have 'perpetrated a massive fraud on the American people' leading them into believing they could afford to own their own home.
Economics - K.C. Boey - 5 comments
 

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Apart from being an inefficient and polluting food source, livestock is the largest driver of deforestation and biodiversity loss.
Environment - Geoff Russell - 22 comments
 
One moment in a 90-minute bare-knuckle brawl of a single presidential debate can seal the fate of the race.
International - Nicholas Wilbur - 4 comments
 
As Obama takes US elections by storm, the legacy of Bush is not lost on the Kurds.
International - Bashdar Ismaeel - 1 comment
 
Having spent eight years bashing the US over its tough handling of Iran, Iraq and changing goals in Afghanistan, the EU must now define its own strategies and ambitions.
International - Shada Islam - 1 comment
 
Perhaps Internet dating is a response to an entirely separate problem in our society: the imminent atrophying of our imaginations.
Feature - Cireena Simcox
 
Three years after his landslide election, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's popularity has declined markedly.
International - Benedetta Berti
 

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

So, you thought discrimination against people with a disability was a thing of the past?
Health - Melinda Tankard Reist - 19 comments
 
Politics abhors a vacuum; green ideology has filled the vacuum created when the Left went into hibernation.
Political Philosophy - Barry York - 41 comments
 
Obama’s ruthlessness is one of his key attributes and one he masks effectively. Following its influence on his presidency should be interesting.
International - Brendon O'Connor - 3 comments
 
We must never rely on the opinion of any one individual, organisation, think-tank, or political party in developing policy.
Domestic Politics - Chris Lewis - 7 comments
 
There are victims of the trade of prostitution who rarely get a mention: the partners of the men who use them.
Society - Jehane Sharah - 13 comments
 
A peace effort in the Middle East has been 15 years in the undoing.
International - Sonja Karkar - 39 comments
 

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The war glorifiers have won the battle for the soul of Remembrance Day.
Political Philosophy - John Passant - 62 comments
 
The Chinese cheer the Democratic victor with a wary eye on his trade policy.
International - Mary Kay Magistad
 
Failure to significantly reduce poverty could eventually destabilise world peace and security; dealing with it successfully is in our national interest.
International - James Ingram - 14 comments
 
Unlike the vast majority of their American cousins who are full of hope, New Zealanders may look back on the Clark administration with nostalgia.
International - Cecily McNeill - 6 comments
 
What do the humanities have to do with the growing economic difficulties of the world?
The Arts - John Armstrong - 3 comments
 
There are definitely rewards to be had by following the ubiquitous law of incentives.
Law & Liberties - Joel Bevin - 5 comments
 

Monday, November 10, 2008

Secularism is a form of neutral government that listens to all points of view. Militant and some moderate Christians don’t want that.
Political Philosophy - Max Wallace - 56 comments
 
The world may be looking to Obama but the new president will be preoccupied with challenges at home.
International - Bruce Stokes
 
It seems there are those who still make a distinction between our troops who served in Gallipoli and those who served in Vietnam.
Domestic Politics - Sasha Uzunov - 12 comments
 
When the market calms down and the guarantee is lifted in three years why shouldn’t we have somewhere for people to keep their money safe?
Economics - Nicholas Gruen - 7 comments
 
Unlike business, community organisations can't pass on the increased costs of a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme to 'consumers'.
Environment - Kasy Chambers - 2 comments
 
Films and television programs about climate change should be made freely available beyond their initial broadcast.
Environment - Nalaka Gunawardene - 2 comments
 

Friday, November 7, 2008

Many assume that a 'climate sceptic' rejects man-made global warming. But that isn’t how the term is used by activists and the media.
Environment - Jeremy Gilling and John Muscat - 90 comments
 
Book burnings and banning extremist groups and individuals rarely solves the problems of racism, anti-Semitism or Islamophobia.
Political Philosophy - Alan Matheson - 41 comments
 
The 'Days of Whine and Poses' are coming to an end, bringing with it the long, low whine of the babyboomer Cultural Left.
Political Philosophy - Malcolm King - 17 comments
 
State governments, through incompetence or worse have abrogated the right to sustainably manage the scarce resource of water.
Environment - Bruce Haigh - 13 comments
 
A Medieval Prayer Book reveals the true genius of antiquity's greatest scientist - Archimedes.
Science & Technology - Evaggelos Vallianatos - 10 comments
 
When a public servant begins work, they will, like in any other job, come across numerous types of people.
Humour & Satire - George Fripley - 2 comments
 

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Australia’s civil partnership registries can and should exist side-by-side with opposite and same-sex marriage, and with legal protections for de facto couples.
Law & Liberties - Rodney Croome and Wayne Morgan - 1 comment
 
The Oprah of US politics: Oprah and Obama are comfortable about their past and do not let colour determine their place in the world.
International - Toni Hassan - 4 comments
 
Could China's robust economy be a fragile house of cards built on shaky policies and phantom numbers?
International - Arthur Thomas - 11 comments
 
Debates around the potential benefits of GM crops for developing countries must be reasoned and evidence-based.
Science & Technology - Albert Weale - 32 comments
 
It is time for decisive action to improve Australia’s counter-terrorism laws.
Law & Liberties - Graeme Innes - 39 comments
 
A modest Murri woman working as an engineer provides a role model for young Indigenous girls.
Society - Stephen Hagan - 3 comments
 

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

A high immigration intake does not benefit the average Australian.
Society - Eric Claus - 35 comments
 
If fairness is part of our political narrative how can we test that nebulous concept of a fair go?
Domestic Politics - John Töns - 5 comments
 
So this man wants a cook, cleaner, housekeeper, travel partner (must pay her own way) and a bed-warmer with an intellect that is not too obvious. Gotcha!!!
Feature - Marilyn Parsons - 22 comments
 
The most prestigious professorship in science, and indeed of all academia, is now vacant following the announced retirement of Stephen Hawking.
Science & Technology - Marko Beljac - 9 comments
 
Obama represents the opportunity for change and progress in the quagmire that is the Middle East.
International - Damon Jalili - 2 comments
 
Regional journals are essential for building science capacity in the developing world.
Science & Technology - Wieland Gevers - 1 comment
 

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The god delusion is pathological. Not only America, but the whole world, has been forced to pay the price.
Society - John Perkins - 67 comments
 
Is recession coming? Yes for the US; no for Australia, with rate cuts to come.
Economics - Henry Thornton - 1 comment
 
The return of a sense of scepticism about the innate moral worth of money may be the most valuable outcome of recent events.
Economics - Tanveer Ahmed - 8 comments
 
The use of nuclear weapons by the major powers as a mode of warfare would spell the end of us all.
International - Stephen Cheleda - 2 comments
 
While almost the entire Western world is in recession it is not yet openly admitted by our elected representatives.
Economics - Selwyn Johnston - 3 comments
 
Let the English spoken by those in the vanguard of public awareness be correct, not corrupt.
Society - Ian Nance - 10 comments
 

Monday, November 3, 2008

The Northern Territory intervention: having let a few crumbs fall, Kevin Rudd has picked up where Howard left off.
Indigenous Affairs - John Pilger - 19 comments
 
American presidential elections are global events, followed with greater intensity and concern by many non-Americans more than their own national elections.
International - Brendon O'Connor - 6 comments
 
Colin Powell's recent endorsement of Barack Obama was because of what was said, and permitted to be said, about Obama's religion.
International - Helen Pringle - 12 comments
 
It’s the electronic age in political campaigning these days. No doubt we will follow the e-lectioneering trends of the US.
Society - Kevin Rennie
 
That was fast. In eight days, my mate and his girlfriend 'winked' and were seriously dating. So what constitutes an internet date exactly?
Feature - Suzan Broadbent - 10 comments
 
A first hand perspective of a McCain rally: 'The crowd ... mostly retired and as culturally diverse as a KKK cross-burning ceremony in post-Civil War Tennessee - was more flaccid than an entire monastery of castrated monks.'
International - Nicholas Wilbur - 8 comments
 

Friday, October 31, 2008

Human rights are used both to condemn murder and torture and to give permission for self murder and the murder of the unborn.
Law & Liberties - Peter Sellick - 83 comments
 
The US now needs a leader with the mass appeal of a JFK, the long-range vision of an FDR, and the unifying skills of a Nelson Mandela.
International - Philip Machanick - 58 comments
 
Queensland has had a long history of police killings of Aborigines: we need a further Royal Commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody.
Law & Liberties - John Tomlinson - 27 comments
 
Do these bank deposit guarantees and acts of generosity reflect skilful economic management by our elected government?
Economics - Arthur Thomas - 5 comments
 
'The Religion Report' provides an insight into questions such as what drives Barack Obama or John McCain and what drove the Bali Bombers.
Media - Toni Hassan - 7 comments
 
The current financial crisis is merely a blip of history within the ongoing struggle of nations competing for resources and the influence of ideas.
Economics - Chris Lewis - 3 comments
 
It’s just a couple of days before the presidential election, and I’m worried about what happens afterwards. I’m worried about the media.
Humour & Satire - Walt Brasch - 3 comments
 

Thursday, October 30, 2008

After 20 years of Internet access we are comfortable with how it works, which makes this latest resurrection of the online censorship debate somewhat perplexing.
Media - Mark Newton - 26 comments
 
Green links and personal agendas are hurting the credibility of ANU research.
Environment - Mark Poynter - 55 comments
 
'The Religion Report' has been liquidated by managers who can’t see beyond the book balance and rate of downloads.
Religion & Spirituality - Binoy Kampmark - 19 comments
 
Jenny Macklin's response to the Intervention review's report is not only misleading, it's a gross betrayal of trust.
Indigenous Affairs - Graham Ring - 19 comments
 
A remarkable turnaround: now it seems that increasing pensions is seen as a way to help the economy so it is universally applauded.
Economics - Richard Denniss - 7 comments
 
Any infusion of money into the housing market is likely to increase prices, simply because the supply of new housing is artificially rationed.
Economics - Wendell Cox - 5 comments
 

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Gifted children bring many special problems with their giftedness: their learning needs are totally different to non-gifted students.
Education - Rosie Williams - 5 comments
 
The urgency to tackle the financial crisis is in stark contrast to the foot-dragging and broken promises over poverty alleviation, human rights and climate change.
Society - Australian NGO Chiefs - 76 comments
 
Most mothers make the same choice - to do the best they can in the circumstances in which they find themselves.
Society - Monica Dux - 21 comments
 
Queensland could be producing all its electricity needs from renewable sources within 15 years. But where is the political will?
Environment - Mike Pope - 11 comments
 
Should trade unions be entitled to bargain over issues which extend way beyond the workplace?
October Feature - Paul Gollan - 3 comments
 
Australia has never had a comprehensive national sexual and reproductive health strategy.
Health - Jenny Ejlak - 11 comments
 

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

In spite of the current financial crisis, capitalism, with all its excesses and problems, will be with us for some time to come.
Economics - Mark S. Lawson - 14 comments
 
If a government really wanted to improve the health and safety of Aboriginal women and children then it can’t ignore Aboriginal men.
Indigenous Affairs - John Tomlinson - 19 comments
 
Outsourcing parental responsibilities to the Nanny State is ultimately self-defeating.
Society - Jeremy Sammut - 15 comments
 
Public opinion towards the US in the Western world is now much more negative than even at the height of Reagan's global unpopularity.
International - Brendon O'Connor - 40 comments
 
Marx's ideas on religion have been misunderstood: he was an atheist, but he sought to understand religion.
Political Philosophy - Patrick Weiniger - 11 comments
 
The intriguing case of freelance cameraman, the late Paul Moran, the ABC and the CIA.
Media - Sasha Uzunov - 4 comments
 

Monday, October 27, 2008

We need to fire up the experts to follow the energy trail across the economy to work out where and how much energy is being spent.
Science & Technology - John Barker - 16 comments
 
Victoria's Abortion Law Reform Bill decriminalises abortion and forces doctors with conscientious objections to refer women to doctors who will do abortions.
Law & Liberties - Michael Cook - 43 comments
 
Democracy in Indonesia remains highly vulnerable to determined anti-democratic movements.
International - Sadanand Dhume - 6 comments
 
Women are still anomalous in politics - they tend to get de-sexed or sexed up so everyone can feel less threatened.
Society - Sheleyah Courtney - 30 comments
 
The denial of access to life-saving vaccines in the name of bio-security raises many moral and human rights issues.
Health - Peter Curson - 2 comments
 
By limiting the WHO's access to the H5N1 influenza virus Indonesia has a bargaining tool to gain access to patent protected life saving medicines.
Health - Charles Lawson - 2 comments
 

Friday, October 24, 2008

Rules intended to protect workers and citizens have been put into legislation but those rules are seldom enforced.
October Feature - Des Griffin - 9 comments
 
Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull are just playing with bipartisanship. Now they should put it into practice.
Domestic Politics - John Warhurst
 
The Nationals are bleeding to death and it is hard to know how to stop it.
Domestic Politics - Peter Van Onselen - 14 comments
 
It's good policy to fight recession first and worry about the cost later.
Economics - Nicholas Gruen - 11 comments
 
The marathon was borne from the legend of Pheidippides, the Greek soldier who ran from the Battle of Marathon to Athens.
Sport - Joel Bevin - 4 comments
 
Sparing Casanova's feelings might be the polite thing to do, but surely, compromising one's integrity is too great a price.
Society - Nina Funnell - 18 comments
 

Thursday, October 23, 2008

While executive salaries are an obscenity, they are a symptom, not the cause, of the financial crisis.
Economics - Marcus Strom - 7 comments
 
Mr Rudd is looking jelly backed on the matter of the death penalty. His moral conviction has been put to the test and he has buckled.
Law & Liberties - Greg Barns - 14 comments
 
Ian Carnell, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, plays a crucial role balancing balance security, secrecy and civil liberties.
Law & Liberties - Peter Coates - 8 comments
 
Will we see President George W. Bush as the recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize or the Nobel prize for Economics in the future?
Society - Ivan Simic - 2 comments
 
With the benefit of hindsight some places are moving to defluoridate their water while South East Queensland pushes ahead.
Health - Anne Matthews-Frederick - 36 comments
 
One of our crown jewels was able to be destroyed for almost no gain, because the public at large have become alien to the planet.
Environment - Brian Holden - 18 comments
 

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The government’s economic rescue package is described in terms of Christmas presents. Let me give Kevin Rudd some advice ...
Economics - Jill Sutton - 5 comments
 
The Rudd Government's $10.4 billion package to boost spending will do little to protect the most vulnerable from hardship.
Economics - Ray Cleary - 2 comments
 
The tendency to keep children with abusive parents suggests children are the property of their parents.
Society - Chris James - 38 comments
 
The concept of Original Sin has its roots in paganism not monotheism. The nature of evil is not connected with Original Sin.
Religion & Spirituality - David Fisher - 41 comments
 
‘Gentle invaders’ revisited: women and the Australian union movement, past and present.
October Feature - Angela Barns and Alison Preston - 2 comments
 
We should codify the reserve powers of the Governor-General, or at least put limits on the scope of such powers.
Law & Liberties - Steven Spadijer - 1 comment
 

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

There is a wealth of wisdom in the Gospels, if you just ignore the stuff about gods and angels, heaven, hell and demons.
Religion & Spirituality - Peter Grimley - 32 comments
 
The banking system that served us well for nearly 80 years through economic growth and change has been wrecked.
Economics - Keith Kennelly - 6 comments
 
Now that the US model has had its comeuppance what type of capitalism should emerge?
Economics - Scott MacDonald - 4 comments
 
When a public servant begins work, they will, like in any other job, come across numerous types of people.
Humour & Satire - George Fripley - 2 comments
 
One of Kevin Rudd’s favourite mantras is that he wishes to develop 'evidence based' policy. So let's see the evidence.
Domestic Politics - Ross Farrelly - 8 comments
 
Advanced IT can play a vital role in helping police better serve the community.
Science & Technology - Allen Koehn - 2 comments
 

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