The recent wild weather that lashed New South Wales has been described as ‘once-in-a-century’. But how often does it really happen?
At one climate change conference after another, leaders of the developed democracies solemnly pledge action, then return to the gridlock of political systems with 19th-century origins.
EPA/COP20
Even as the challenges of climate change grow ever more obvious, what remains largely unacknowledged is the crisis in liberal democratic politics that is preventing an effective response.
Indigenous prisoners perform a welcome ceremony at the 2014 opening of Darwin’s $500 million prison, which is likely to be full by 2018.
AAP/Neda Vanovac
The Northern Territory stands out for having one of the highest imprisonment rates in the world - much higher even than in the US - and it’s hard to argue that this does the community much good.
Shakespeare, Chaucer, Dickens: are there no new books to compare?
Ben Leto/Flickr
Do English texts stay the same over the decades because there are no good modern books? Or because the process of selecting new books is just too hard?
Children growing up in a world of social media are developing a very different conception of privacy to that of their parents.
Ed Ivanushkin/Flickr
Many people are shocked by what children are willing to share about themselves online. Is it that they don’t understand privacy, or just have a different conception of it compared to adults?
Climate models show Sydney could get drier or wetter. Which scenario do we choose when making decisions?
Joel Carrett/AAP
Depending on what model you use, climate change could make Sydney a little bit warmer, much hotter, wetter, or drier. Which one should we use? When it comes to planning for climate change, it’s important to look at all the possible futures.
Safeguarding rainforests is an area where the United Nations has made great strides - hopefully the Paris summit can deliver more of the same.
Sze Ning/Flickr.com/Wikimedia Commons
In the final part of his essay on the Paris climate talks, Nick Rowley explains how a successful deal, whether binding or not, needs to influence directly the domestic policies of the world’s nations.
Australia’s Future Fund, chaired by former Treasurer Peter Costello, is not immune to the tax schemes corporations love.
Alan Porritt/AAP
Jenny Ostini, University of Southern Queensland and Susan Hopkins, University of Southern Queensland
Technology violence is a term that encompasses all types of harassment and abuse that occurs online and serves to control or intimidate women in particular.
Ideally, the cabinet should include four of the seven types of leaders - and only two of those make effective prime ministers.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Analysis of the mindsets and responses of thousands of senior leaders tells us only about 7% are likely to have the right stuff to lead effective government responses to wicked problems.
Fortescue Metals Group founder Andrew Forrest has suggested iron ore miners cap production, but it might have been unnecessary had he supported a well-designed mining tax.
Julian Smith/AAP
Efforts to get fathers more involved in raising their kids often entail changing leave provisions, but research shows that’s not helping dads get more involved in caring for their children.
Observations from space have shown the world overall is getting greener despite deforestation and drought.
Carl Davies/CSIRO
Discussions of tax usually focus on tax rates, not on tax bases. But both offer possibilities to increase the total tax take.
If a child is being bullied at school should parents intervene? Talking to the school, the other parents, the other child are all options, but is it better to let your children fend for themselves?
Shutterstock
If a child is being bullied at school should parents intervene? Talking to the school, the other parents, the other child are all options, but is it better to let your children fend for themselves?
87% of Australian women have experienced some form of physical or verbal street harassment.
Elena Dijour/Shutterstock
You may not have heard the term “street harassment”, but if you’re a woman in Australia, you’ve probably experienced it: whistles, stares, comments by strangers in the street.