The trial of the cashless welfare card, to control unhealthy spending in Indigenous communities, is being expanded partly due to emotive well-funded campaigns. Meanwhile, evidence is being ignored.
Businessman Andrew Forrest and his wife Nicola are strong advocates of anti-slavery measures.
AAP/Alan Porritt
Any proposed solution to the problem of modern slavery must engage with the business community and government policies on migration and migrant labour.
The Forrests have bold ambitions for their philanthropy – perhaps inviting some cynics to be dismissive of their aims.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
The record donation by Twiggy Forrest highlights the rise of more strategic philanthropy, which tries to tackle the root causes of complex problems through collaboration, research and advocacy.
Almost half of the participants in the Cashless Welfare Card trial said it had made their lives worse.
AAP/Richard Milnes
It’s a mystery why another trial of the Cashless Debit Card is necessary – particularly given how it has led to further economic and social harm among its participants.
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
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.
Do the unelected super-rich exercise a strong influence on public policy?
AAP/Mick Tsikas
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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…
Highly publicised private benefactors are redefining philanthropy in Australia, so now is the time for a discussion on how this wealth can best be harnessed.
The recent commitment by Fortescue Metals chief Andrew Forrest to contribute half of his private wealth to philanthropic causes, coming on top of investor Graham Tuckwell’s $50 million donation for equity…
Relieved: Fortescue Metals Chairman Andrew Forrest wins his High Court appeal - but the message to ASIC is the need for greater transparency.
AAP
Fortescue Metals Chairman Andrew Forrest can breathe a huge sigh of relief after winning his High Court appeal against a Federal Court finding that might have seen him banned as a company director. The…
Given its parlous financial state, Queensland is within its rights to increase mining royalties. But why frame it as a surplus profits tax?
AAP
The Queensland Government has decided to raise coal mining royalties. Seems reasonable, doesn’t it? A review of Queensland Pty Ltd by Peter Costello revealed a precarious balance sheet. Time to get things…
Australian iron ore producers have had a torrid time in recent months - but how they quickly they can respond to such fluctuations will be critical to their continued success.
AAP
Despite the recent fluctuations of the iron ore price, producers such as mining billionaires Andrew Forrest and Gina Rinehart entered the iron ore market with eyes wide open and understand the long-term…
President of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and Director of the Asia-Pacific Program for Social Investment and Philanthropy in the Centre for Social Impact, Swinburne University of Technology