Welcome to Eureka Street

back to site

Keywords: Laws

  • AUSTRALIA

    Falling, flying and the weight of the world

    • Barry Gittins
    • 18 December 2024

    As airports swell with holiday travellers chasing far-flung reunions and tropical getaways, a paradox looms above the tarmac: while we demand action on climate change, few are ready to ground themselves. Flight represents humanity’s defiance of limits — an act of freedom, wonder, and consequence. Can we balance soaring ambitions with planetary survival?

    READ MORE
  • AUSTRALIA

    Reflecting on the year that was

    • David Halliday, Michael McVeigh, Laura Kings, Michele Frankeni, Andrew Hamilton, Julian Butler
    • 18 December 2024

    To close the year for Eureka Street, the editorial team are taking a step back to reflect on the character of 2024. What did it demand of us? What did it teach us about ourselves, and the world we inhabit?

    READ MORE
  • AUSTRALIA

    The delight and discomfort of undeserved gifts

    • Emma Wilkins
    • 18 December 2024

    Gift-giving should be a celebration of kindness, but modern rituals often entangle us in obligation and excess. From generous neighbours to Christmas present hauls, reciprocal gifts build and shape our relationships. But what does it mean to give without strings?

    READ MORE
  • AUSTRALIA

    Coles, Woolies and the battle for the basket

    • Claire Heaney
    • 13 December 2024

    For years, Coles and Woolworths have been accused of squeezing both producers and shoppers in equal measure. With new regulatory changes on the horizon and a web of inquiries underway, the supermarket duopoly finds itself under unprecedented scrutiny. But will these reforms actually lower grocery bills?

    READ MORE
  • AUSTRALIA

    The horror of synagogue burning

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 12 December 2024

    The firebombing of Melbourne's Adass Israel Synagogue is a profound tragedy, reflecting the weight of historical hatred and contemporary tensions. Amid global grief and anger, this act of antisemitism compels us to reflect on the shared humanity of all people and the urgent need for peace, understanding, and ethical leadership.

    READ MORE
  • EDUCATION

    The hidden cost of digital childhood

    • Peter Hosking
    • 11 December 2024

      In a world reshaped by smartphones and social media, Generations Z and Alpha grapple with rising anxiety, diminished attention spans, and the erosion of real-world connections. As governments and parents push for reforms, the challenge is clear: how can technology serve young people’s growth without exploiting their vulnerabilities for profit?

    READ MORE
  • AUSTRALIA

    New immigration laws treat humans as parcels

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 04 December 2024

    Australia’s recent immigration detention laws reveal a stark shift in governance, prioritising power over human dignity. As families face indefinite separation and bureaucrats enforce policies with brutal efficiency, the High Court's rebuke offers a glimmer of ethical resistance. But can such laws truly claim legitimacy in a democratic society?

    READ MORE
  • AUSTRALIA

    Can a ban save kids from social media’s harms?

    • Binoy Kampmark
    • 04 December 2024

    In a move that’s been both lauded as necessary and criticized as overreaching, Australia has enacted legislation banning social media for users under 16, placing enforcement squarely on Big Tech. But behind the legislation lies a contentious debate: does prohibition protect, or does it merely shift the harm?

    READ MORE
  • AUSTRALIA

    Housing is a human right. It's time it became law

    • Kevin Bell
    • 29 November 2024
    2 Comments

    With unaffordable housing pushing families into impossible choices,  homelessness affecting 120,000 people, and systemic inequities deepening, we must ask: What kind of society do we want to build — and for whom?

    READ MORE
  • INTERNATIONAL

    Is America ready for a tycoon President again?

    • David James
    • 18 November 2024
    4 Comments

    Donald Trump's first term, marred by impeachments, bureaucratic resistance and a pandemic, offered few answers as to how a businessperson might navigate the complexities of Washington. Now, as he returns to office, Trump’s business instincts — and their implications for governance — are once again under scrutiny.

    READ MORE
  • ENVIRONMENT

    The forest wars

    • Tony Smith
    • 04 October 2024

      The Forest Wars reveals how vested interests make life difficult for the scientists and activists who attempt to defend the environment, a war waged through deforestation on one hand and deception and obfuscation on the other. Linenmayer asks: if we continue to allow vested interests to drive deforestation, how long before the forests — and the future they promise — are lost beyond repair?

    READ MORE
  • AUSTRALIA

    A second try at combatting disinformation

    • Frank Brennan
    • 25 September 2024
    3 Comments

    The Government is making another valiant effort to rein in the adverse effects of ungoverned digital platforms. But in debating such a detailed bill without the backstop of a constitutional or statutory bill of rights recognising the right to freedom of expression, there are no clear guard rails for getting the balance right. 

    READ MORE
Join the conversation. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter  Subscribe