NSW

Most read science stories of 2019

18 Dec 2019

This year's most popular science stories took readers from melting Antarctic ice sounding the alarm on microbes and climate change, to a pest-proof fence to protect native wildlife in far western NSW, and early signs of life in ancient rocks in the Pilbara, WA.

An open letter on rental housing reform

25 Sep 2018

Residential tenancy reforms are before the NSW parliament, but a key reform is missing. In this open letter, housing academics call for an end to landlords' power to terminate leases with 'no grounds'.

Airbnb regulation needs to distinguish between sharing and plain old commercial letting

06 Jun 2018

As the NSW State Government moves to impose limits on apartment owners who continuously let on a short-term basis, one issue is that Airbnb isn't transparent about how many properties are truly 'shared' and how many are just part of a business.

Reimagining NSW: how good governance strengthens democracy

02 Aug 2016

Good governance is the right thing to do, and boosts the legitimacy of decision-making. If moral chivalry doesn't appeal, here are two more reasons: it's cost-efficient and delivers better solutions.

Does sending more people to prison make us safer?

20 May 2014

If crime rates are falling, why has NSW recorded its highest ever rate of imprisonment, and where's the evidence that it's worth the extra cost, asks Eileen Baldry.

Pro-choice in practice is not legal protection

03 Dec 2013

Zoe's law needs to be accompanied by an overdue decriminalisation of abortion in NSW, where a woman can be jailed for up to 10 years if she "unlawfully" terminates her pregnancy, writes George Williams.

State of the states: New South Wales

06 Sep 2013

Both major parties have approached the complexities of NSW with piecemeal policies in constrained circumstances. Neither has an industry policy, argues Mark Rolfe.

ICAC, Obeid and public disgust

08 Feb 2013

Not only is Eddie Obeid an old acquaintance of ICAC's, he is the link between successive political casualties, argues Mark Rolfe.