Opinion

A homeless person sits on a platform overlooking a Melbourne street

Vital Signs: we're doing well despite Delta, but 3 major economic challenges loom

17 Sep 2021

Australia faces economic problems down the road if three big, structural reform areas – housing affordability, the tax mix, and decarbonisation – are not addressed.

NSW Chief Medical Officer Kerry Chant addresses the media as Premier Gladys Berijiklian watches on.

Chief health officers are in the spotlight like never before. Here's what goes on behind the scenes

17 Sep 2021

Media coverage misses the nuances of the chief health officer roles. This is what we found when we spoke to them.

Man wearing face mask showing bandaid on arm where he just received COVID vaccination

You're much less likely to get long COVID if you've been vaccinated

16 Sep 2021

One study suggests getting vaccinated halves the risk of developing long COVID.

People wearing masks shopping at an outdoor fruit market

NSW risks a second larger COVID peak by Christmas if it eases restrictions too quickly

15 Sep 2021

An 80% adult vaccination rate corresponds to 64% of the overall population, leaving plenty of people susceptible to the virus if restrictions ease too quickly.

greens leader adam bandt at a lectern saying 'green new deal'

Vital Signs: the Greens' super-profits tax idea could end up burning muscle, not fat

13 Sep 2021

Taxing super profits sounds like a a good idea, but it’s hard to get right and there might be better ways to get more company tax.

protest crowd

Australia's 'A' rating on human rights is under threat with a handpicked, politically engineered commissioner

10 Sep 2021

An open process for appointing commissioners is necessary to preserve the Human Rights Commission’s independence and legitimacy.

woman on sofa wearing mask

I'd prefer an ankle tag: why home quarantine apps are a bad idea

10 Sep 2021

Home quarantine apps face serious privacy, security and bias issues. Home detention ankle tags might be a better option.

protester holds a sign at federal parliament saying do not stay quiet

Explainer: what is a 'positive duty' to prevent workplace sexual harassment and why is it so important?

09 Sep 2021

The Morrison government says existing laws already provide a positive duty to prevent sexual harassment, but these don’t go far enough.

A QR code check in outside a business

Police access to COVID check-in data is an affront to our privacy. We need stronger and more consistent rules in place

08 Sep 2021

State police have accessed QR code check-in data on at least six occasions, for investigations unrelated to the pandemic.

primary school-aged children walk across a zebra crossing wearing face masks

In debates about opening schools, we're neglecting an important voice: our children's

06 Sep 2021

The NSW plan doesn’t measure up against international best practice. And Victoria doesn’t seem to be following a child-centred approach, either.

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