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Articles on Andrew Forrest

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The Cashless Debit Card trial disproportionately targets Indigenous people, despite what the government says. AAP/Richard Milnes

As costs mount, the government should abandon the Cashless Debit Card

That the Cashless Debit Card continues to be pursued exposes a dogged obsession with implementing punitive policy at the expense of vulnerable people.
Businessman Andrew Forrest and his wife Nicola are strong advocates of anti-slavery measures. AAP/Alan Porritt

Should Australia have a Modern Slavery Act?

Any proposed solution to the problem of modern slavery must engage with the business community and government policies on migration and migrant labour.
What do Ceduna and the other trial sites for the Healthy Welfare Card have in common? All are country towns with a mix of Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents. Wikimedia Commons/Nachoman-au

Healthy Welfare Card begins here … where next?

Income management was first applied to Indigenous communities before being implemented more widely. The Healthy Welfare Card policy appears to be on this same path.
Treasurer Joe Hockey has announced that the government will not pursue an inquiry into iron ore prices. AAP/Tracey Nearmy

Iron ore inquiry off but row continues

The government has given into the pressure from the big miners and formally abandoned the idea of a parliamentary inquiry into the iron ore sector.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott is in a nasty squeeze, with Andrew Forrest, founder of Fortescue Metals Group, and some of the other smaller miners on one side, and the big producers, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, on the other. AAP/Dan Himbrechts

War between miners catches government in the crossfire

Tony Abbott has got into a terrible tangle over whether there should be an inquiry into iron ore prices.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott says an inquiry into iron ore competition “could make sense”. Alan Porritt/AAP

Competition the wrong test for iron ore inquiry

While it’s easy for the large miners to argue increased iron ore production is business as usual, the overall cost to the sector warrants a closer inspection.
Since the NT Intervention a large body of evidence has built up showing that income management does not achieve its stated goals. So why does it continue? AAP/Dean Lewins

A $147m budget saving missed: income management has failed

Various studies, culminating in the final evaluation report of income management in the Northern Territory, have found such programs don’t achieve the claimed benefits. Why did the budget extend them?
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

Why Twiggy Forrest should have got behind a super profits tax

Had the mining industry engaged differently on the proposed mining super profits tax, it would be in a better position today.
In the seven years since the Northern Territory Intervention, a large body of evidence has been built up showing few if any benefits from compulsory - as distinct from voluntary - income management. AAP/Terry Trewin

Government that ignores evidence sets up welfare policies to fail

The mess of federal budget negotiations has taken over the limited space for social policy debates. However, we are due to get final reports on a range of inquiries. These include the McClure report on…
Tony Abbott keeps appointing businessmen like Andrew Forrest, who have limited expertise in analysing evidence and developing social policy, to advise the government. AAP/Nikki Short

Forrest report ignores what works and why in Indigenous policy

The Creating Parity report on Indigenous employment and welfare, released last week by mining magnate Andrew Forrest, is in much the same vein as Tony Shepherd’s recent Commission of Audit. Forrest and…
Children who were rescued from working as bonded labour stage a protest against slavery in New Delhi, India. EPA

Taking on modern slavery and the challenge of making it history

In the late 18th century, a small band of British Quakers and other humanitarian-minded folk began to build the case against the slave trade. Britain’s supremacy in maritime power and technology meant…
Will philanthropy in Australia change because of the recent donation by Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest to Wes Australian universities. Seed image from www.shutterstock.com

Of Forrests and acorns: philanthropic gift may seed other university giving

This week’s A$65 million pledge by Nicola and Andrew Forrest to all five West Australian universities alters the philanthropy landscape in Australia. The Forrests’ donation comes less than a year after…

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