Keywords: Government Independence
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ECONOMICS
- David James
- 29 January 2025
A plan to raise superannuation taxes on high-value funds has stalled in the Senate, sparking a broader debate about government control over retirement savings. Rooted in a unique system that places ownership squarely with individuals, Australia’s approach has delivered impressive returns, yet political pressures threaten to reshape its future.
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INTERNATIONAL
- Peter Craven
- 24 January 2025
In a second presidency begun with a spate of brash decrees — annexing Greenland, scrapping birthright citizenship — and forging odd alliances with billionaires, Donald Trump is already defying expectations. How did we reach this unsettling moment, and can America endure it?
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ARTS AND CULTURE
- Gillian Bouras
- 16 January 2025
Sacred spaces reflect their times, from Baroque splendor to Brutalist minimalism. A visit to Warsaw’s Temple of Divine Providence highlights how churches, beyond their doctrines, become vessels of national identity, architectural evolution, and historical memory.
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EDUCATION
- 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?
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AUSTRALIA
- Hugh Breakey, Rebecca Marshallsay, Larelle Bossi, Charles Sampford
- 04 November 2024
1 Comment
While the government's Sustainable Ocean Plan rightly prioritizes environmental sustainability, long-term success in managing Australia’s vast ocean spaces will also require a strong focus on social sustainability. For Australia’s marine industries to thrive, they must not only secure genuine social license but also navigate its potential risks.
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INTERNATIONAL
- Dotan Rousso
- 31 October 2024
1 Comment
Beyond economic and national security agendas, Trump’s appeal, more visceral than policy-driven, hinges on tapping into a collective disillusionment — one that sees progressive ideology as veering into an unforgiving orthodoxy.
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AUSTRALIA
- Adam Hughes Henry
- 08 October 2024
5 Comments
Australia’s housing crisis is increasingly seen as a byproduct of system rigged for the wealthy, while ordinary Australians grapple with debt and rising costs. As home ownership becomes increasingly out of reach, it's time to rethink housing as a right, not just a means of wealth accumulation.
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INTERNATIONAL
- Melody Kemp
- 04 October 2024
2 Comments
By the time the last American bombs had fallen in 1973, Laos had attained the dubious title as the most heavily bombed country in the world per capita. An estimated 270 million bombs were dropped on this small country, 80 million of which remain unexploded.
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INTERNATIONAL
The Myanmar civil war has left the country devastated. Three years since a military coup, Myanmar is a humanitarian catastrophe. With over 2.7 million people displaced, the UN reported that 18.6 million people need humanitarian aid, 6 million of whom are children. A report from our correspondent in Myanmar.
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AUSTRALIA
- Kerry Murphy
- 04 January 2024
Throughout recent decades of Australian history, the stance every government has taken on asylum seekers 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
- Adrian Rosenfeldt
- 29 September 2023
12 Comments
Amid the rise of 'no religion' among young Australians, there is a nuanced narrative of spirituality with demonstrated potential to alleviate some mental health concerns. With a prominent strain of individualism pervading today's culture, might revisiting spiritual connectedness provide young people with a needed respite?
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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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