Vol 33 No 14

24 July 2023

ARTS AND CULTURE

Generalist v. specialist
- Michele Frankeni
- 04 August 2023
1 Comment
In an era where trivia knowledge reigns, what's the value of true expertise? Distinguishing between general knowledge and specialisation, what is the importance of experts in a world where answers are at our fingertips, and what does it mean to truly 'know' something?
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INTERNATIONAL

Hollywood's existential crisis
- Jim McDermott
- 03 August 2023
In a world captivated by streaming services, binge-watching hides a hidden crisis: writers and actors, cornered by the very industry they've enriched, face financial hardship and clashing with corporate greed, resonating with global struggles around labor and human value.
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AUSTRALIA

Win battles or win people
- Andrew Hamilton
- 03 August 2023
5 Comments
As our teams struggle for victory on the playing field, is there a deeper meaning to winning that transcends mere conquest? Could our obsession with triumph be being challenged by a more nuanced understanding of success, encompassing not just the game, but politics, relationships, and the very essence of human connection?
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AUSTRALIA

What can we expect of a progressive government?
- Anthony N Castle
- 02 August 2023
6 Comments
Despite a decisive electoral shift and promises to solve generational crises in housing, climate, and the cost-of-living, the change many longed for seems slow under Labor. What can be realistically expected from a government with a mandate for change, yet wrestling with complex problems that defy simple solutions?
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AUSTRALIA

The Robodebt reckoning
- Mark Gaetani
- 02 August 2023
5 Comments
Despite causing despair and even leading to lives lost, those who orchestrated Robodebt from 2015 to 2019 appear unrepentant. Yet one fact remains unchallenged: this scheme lays bare a troubling disregard for the dignity of the most vulnerable in society.
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ARTS AND CULTURE

Censorship in the age of social media
- Sarah Klenbort
- 01 August 2023
5 Comments
When a comedic story is withdrawn from a literary contest for referencing Putin, it bears reflecting on various shades of censorship. In an interconnected world where social media storms can shape the narrative, what does freedom of speech mean for writers today?
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AUSTRALIA

Three steps back and one step forward: Three decades of asylum seekers in Australia
- Kerry Murphy
- 28 July 2023
How has Australia's asylum seeker policy changed over the past thirty years? The approach of every government has reflected the shifting political landscapes and challenging humanitarian issues that have continually shaped Australia's response to those seeking refuge.
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AUSTRALIA

Myths peddling the cycles of cruelty to children
- Andrew Hamilton
- 27 July 2023
6 Comments
In a society quick to categorize children as either good or bad, reform efforts seem caught in a cyclical battle. Children often fall victim to these broad definitions, especially those from disadvantaged groups. What factors cause these cycles of progress and relapse, and how can lasting reform be achieved?
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AUSTRALIA

Impartial journalism in the age of social media
- Denis Muller
- 26 July 2023
1 Comment
The landscape has changed, and there is no going back. Individual journalists are now integrated into the ranks of pundits, urgers and persuaders who abound online. At their employers’ behest, they blog, they podcast, they ‘engage’ as the current jargon has it, with those who post comments to their articles online. (From 2021)
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ENVIRONMENT

Some like it hot
- Gillian Bouras
- 26 July 2023
6 Comments
With Southern Europe's relentless heatwave leading to ensuing wildfires and loss of life, what is the future of this region under such environmental duress? And how can individuals and communities respond to the urgent and pervasive threat of climate change?
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AUSTRALIA

Employees are being asked to return to the office. Should they?
- Anna Grummitt
- 25 July 2023
2 Comments
Post-lockdown, many remote workers are now being asked to return to offices full time. Ongoing controversy around return-to-office mandates prompts a reconsideration: how can the debate on future work models include a fuller picture of human life, extending beyond mere productivity?
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AUSTRALIA

A songline of the universe
- Constant Mews
- 25 July 2023
6 Comments
Simultaneously scientific and evocative, 'Origins' an oratorio by Nicholas Buc, offers a modern songline with the story of creation, evolution, and extinction. As we stand at the precipice of a referendum to recognise the first peoples in our constitution, can this musical piece remind us of the value of the stories that shape our understanding of the universe and our place within it?
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AUSTRALIA

The politics of second chances
- Julian Butler
- 24 July 2023
1 Comment
Navigating the political landscape where second chances are infrequent, Bill Shorten's comeback in Anthony Albanese's shadow cabinet echoes Billy Hughes' tenacious parliamentary presence. These instances raise the question: can an ousted leader carve out meaningful roles and contribute positively to a nation's public life?
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Vol 33 No 14