Search Results: Singapore
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AUSTRALIA
- Brian Toohey
- 04 September 2012
3 Comments
Looking at a map of the Australian coastline gives no clue about how far Australia's territorial claims extend. As a result, Australian policy makers aren't eager to embrace suggestions that Asian countries disputing possession of small islands and rocky outcrops should resolve their differences by assigning ownership to the closest country.
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EDUCATION
- Michael Furtado
- 16 March 2012
15 Comments
Given that Catholic and independent schools tend to produce better results than government schools, one would expect to be able to demonstrate that the non-government sector adds more value to a student's education. The evidence does not bear this out.
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EDUCATION
- Chris Middleton
- 24 February 2012
9 Comments
The report's argument that a base level of funding be established might lead to a lowest common denominator approach to determining what is an 'efficient' education, in both the state and private systems. Creativity, diversity and experimentation may be hindered in such a regime.
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MEDIA
- Catherine Marshall
- 20 February 2012
33 Comments
For all the things Qantas stands accused of — selling out its Australian employees, uncompetitive pricing, bad management — it appears to be respectful of women. A ticket on a Virgin flight, on the other hand, brings with it the allure of sex, the commodity on which the company's brand has been built.
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AUSTRALIA
- Joachim Francis Xavier
- 15 February 2012
3 Comments
A large segment of Malaysian society and the government in particular is clearly xenophobic. Yet Malaysia has thrown its arms wide open to asylum seekers heading to Australia. What is the motivation underlying Malaysia's sudden love affair with refugee swap deals?
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AUSTRALIA
- Andrew Chalk
- 11 October 2011
5 Comments
Many Australians have reached a point of believing that the difficulties afflicting Aboriginal communities demand the heavy handed, and often humiliating, approach. But the Philppine grassroots Gawad Kalinga model, based on 'the giving of care', offers a realistic alternative.
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AUSTRALIA
- John Warhurst
- 01 March 2011
15 Comments
Old men are hard to top when it comes to abuse of power: Egypt's Mubarak is 82, Italy's Berlusconi is 74, and Zimbabwe's Mugabe is 88. There are good arguments for removing leaders once they reach 'a certain age', even in relatively benign democracies such as Australia.
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INTERNATIONAL
- Mark Raper
- 17 November 2010
3 Comments
May I tell you about one refugee whom I met during the 20 years I lived and worked JRS? The story has no happy outcome, indeed far from it. But it may help to communicate some of the feelings that inspire many who accompany the refugees.
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ARTS AND CULTURE
- Mark Carkeet and Graham Kershaw
- 17 August 2010
They're elderly, unstable, probably a couple, their cheerful eyes sprung like steel against the cold, their hands arthritic, resigned; their grip carrying no conviction. Concentration lapses. People fail to see. This has never been a Labour town.
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AUSTRALIA
- Brian Toohey
- 03 June 2010
9 Comments
An earlier generation of politicians feared impoverished Asian hordes would pour down and eat our lunch.
Current PM Kevin Rudd worries their offspring can now afford to come armed with the latest weapons and steal it. His fretting comes at great cost to the nation.
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ARTS AND CULTURE
- Suzanne Hemming
- 10 March 2010
9 Comments
The Singaporeans have heavy fines for
antisocial behaviour such as spitting and swearing. It works for them,
and creates a pleasant, safe environment for tourists. But the lack
of seats suggests something more: a form of social control.
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RELIGION
- Frank Brennan
- 14 October 2009
1 Comment
Even if all our recommendations were implemented tomorrow, there would still be vulnerable
Australians missing out on essential economic and
social rights. Responsibility for meeting these needs cannot rest
solely with government. We need to take
responsibility for each other.
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