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Should Australians be charged for driving in CBDs?
Should Australians be charged for driving in CBDs?
A new report by the Grattan Institute is calling for all major cities in Australia to impose a congestion charge on drivers during peak hours to ease heavy traffic in the CBD.
Lead author and the institute's transport program director, Marion Terrill, said new technology meant the charge was the easiest, cheapest and most effective way to reduce congestion in cities.
ABC News, October 14, 2019
Is pill testing the best way to prevent drug overdoses at music festivals?
Is pill testing the best way to prevent drug overdoses at music festivals?
A tragic spate of six drug-related deaths at festivals in NSW has pushed the pill testing debate into overdrive this year.
ABC News, September 17, 2019
Should school uniforms be compulsory?
Should school uniforms be compulsory?
Whether schools should mandate a uniform is a controversial issue. Some believe wearing the same clothes smooths out inequality. Others see uniforms as authoritarian; believing them a symbol of repression, stifling freedom of thought and individuality.
The Conversation, August 16, 2019
Are cashless welfare cards a good idea in Australia?
Are cashless welfare cards a good idea in Australia?
“This is a bit controversial, we know that,” deputy prime minister Michael McCormick told the National Party’s federal council, which on the weekend voted for a national roll-out of cashless debit cards for anyone younger than 35 on the dole or receiving parenting payments.
The Nationals have joined the chorus within the federal government proclaiming the cards a huge success.
The Minister for Families and Social Services, Anne Ruston, has even gone so far as to claim welfare recipients are “singing its praises”.
Really?
The Conversation, September 17, 2019
Should Australia change its national anthem?
Should Australia change its national anthem?
It is traditional at major sports events to begin with a rendition of the national anthem. At the State of Origin rugby league clash between New South Wales and Queensland on Wednesday, however, at least four Indigenous rugby league players have vowed to remain silent – a protest against an anthem they feel doesn’t represent them.
It’s the second such protest in recent months. Before a rugby league match between the Indigenous All Stars and the Māori All Stars in February, a number of Australian players chose to remain silent when the anthem was played. One of them, team captain Cody Walker, called for a wider discussion into the anthem’s appropriateness – a feeling echoed by many Aboriginal people.
Our national anthem is non-inclusive: Indigenous Australians shouldn’t have to sing it, The Conversation, June 5, 2019
What is the most effective way to solve Australia's feral cat population?
What is the most effective way to solve Australia's feral cat population?
Introduced cats are a key threat to 123 of Australia’s threatened species.
The management of cats is challenging and divisive; many options such as rehoming, trap-neuter-release and euthanasia have been used around the world with varying success.
Australia’s recent commitment to killing 2 million feral cats to protect its native wildlife has attracted international attention and some have considered the project harsh.
While the actual target of 2 million has been rightly criticised as arbitrary and more based on public relations than rigorous science, it’s true non-lethal methods are not enough to stem the environmental havoc cats cause. Particularly in light of a UN report highlighting the world’s extinction crisis, Australia urgently needs well-targeted cat culls.
The Conversation, May 9, 2019
How can Australia reduce the number of coastal and river drownings?
How can Australia reduce the number of coastal and river drownings?
Governments need to provide education that reflects real risks. This includes identifying dangerous river and lake conditions, and learning what to do if you get stuck in a current. Communication around water safety after storms and heavy rains can also help, such as during news weather reports.
Although many water bodies have safety warning signs, there is limited evidence they work to prevent unsafe behaviours.
The Conversation, February 1, 2019
Should we be sending our recyclables to countries that lack capacity to safely process it, and are already struggling to manage their own domestic waste?
Should we be sending our recyclables to countries that lack capacity to safely process it, and are already struggling to manage their own domestic waste?
Last year many Australians were surprised to learn that around half of our plastic waste collected for recycling is exported, and up to 70% was going to China. So much of the world’s plastic was being sent to China that China imposed strict conditions on further imports. The decision sent ripples around the globe, leaving most advanced economies struggling to manage vast quantities of mixed plastics and mixed paper.
The Conversation, January 30, 2019
Is English proficiency the most important factor for international student success?
Is English proficiency the most important factor for international student success?
Focusing only on increasing entry scores on standardised tests like the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is unlikely to help. We also need to provide them with support after they’ve arrived at an Australian university. If we don’t, the number of international students who choose to study in Australia could decrease, hurting the A$32 billion a year industry.
The Conversation, January 25, 2019
What is the best way to reduce household waste in Australia?
What is the best way to reduce household waste in Australia?
Australia is the sixth-largest contributor of household waste per capita in the world. We spend more than $A10.5 billion annually on goods and services that are never or rarely used.
One-quarter of Australians admit to throwing away clothing after just one use, while at the other end of the extreme, 5% of the population save unused items with such tenacity that their homes become dangerously cluttered.
If unnecessary purchases come at such a profound cost, why do we make them?
The Conversation, January 24, 2019
Is pill testing the best way to prevent drug overdoses and deaths at music festivals?
Is pill testing the best way to prevent drug overdoses and deaths at music festivals?
'Beyond The Valley music festival attendee dies following suspected drug overdose,' ABC News, December 31, 2018
Articles from The Conversation
Is an 'opt out' requirement the best way to increase organ donation rates in Australia?
Is an 'opt out' requirement the best way to increase organ donation rates in Australia?
Organ transplantation relies on the generosity of a person to volunteer their organs for donation after death, or the generosity of the family to gift or donate the organs of their deceased relative.
But last year, the organs of just 510 deceased donors were transplanted into Australian recipients. This amounts to 20.7 donations per million people and puts Australia down to 17th place for international deceased organ donation.
Last week, a parliamentary committee report on organ donation and trafficking made a number of recommendations for the Australian government, including investigating whether an opt-out system of organ donation could help increase donation rates.
The Conversation, December 13, 2018
Is an increase of taxes on alcohol the most effective way to reduce obesity rates in Australia?
Is an increase of taxes on alcohol the most effective way to reduce obesity rates in Australia?
We don’t often equate the kilojoules we drink in our glass of wine or pint of beer with the weight that accumulates around our middle. But our new study shows increasing the price of alcohol is the most value for money policy option to prevent obesity in Australia.
The study, released today, shows if we increase alcohol taxes by standardising them across different types of alcohol, overall alcohol consumption would go down. This would lead to substantial reductions in the kilojoules Australians consume each day.
The Conversation, December 12, 2018
What is the best way to treat video game addiction?
What is the best way to treat video game addiction?
From online communities to boot camps, people are seeking help for problem gaming — but what do we know about the best way to treat it?
ABC News, October 24, 2018
How can the number of drownings in coastal areas of Australia be reduced?
How can the number of drownings in coastal areas of Australia be reduced?
Official patrols of New South Wales beaches will not start for another month, but swimmers and surfers are already being warned to take care this summer.
Thirty-nine people drowned along the state's coast last financial year, up seven on the year before but still well below the year before that, when 53 people lost their lives to coastal drowning in NSW.
ABC News, August 23, 2018
Can China win its war on waste?
Can China win its war on waste?
With its 1.4 billion people, China is the world’s second biggest waste producer after the US. Beijing alone churns out around 25,000 tonnes a day – two and a half times the amount of 20 years ago. Much of it ends up in vast leaky landfills or in hazardous backyard recycling operations.
Foreign Correspondent, August 8, 2018 (video, 30 mins)
How environmentally friendly are 'eco' cleaning products?
How environmentally friendly are 'eco' cleaning products?
Some of the chemicals in everyday products that can hurt the environment include plasticisers, surfactants, antibacterial agents, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, phosphates and fragrances. Many of us choose to buy "eco-friendly" household products to minimise our environmental footprint. But are brands labelled "green" or "eco-friendly" really more sustainable than others?
ABC News, August 8, 2018
Does the Australian Government need to educate the public about 'safer selfies'?
Does the Australian Government need to educate the public about 'safer selfies'?
A US man died last week after slipping off a cliff while taking selfies at a whale-watching site in Sydney's south.
Sadly, he's far from alone.
According to Turkish clinicians who tallied up selfie-related incidents reported in the media from December 2013 to January 2017, most injuries resulted from falling, but the leading cause of death was drowning.
In more unusual cases, a Russian man died after posing with a grenade, and in 2016 a tourist in China was dragged underwater by a walrus while he was snapping a selfie with the massive marine mammal.
No wonder some countries run "safer selfie" campaigns.
ABC News, July 30, 2018
NSW Police to help stop dangerous selfies, ABC News, July 31, 2018
Should mobile phones be banned in schools?
Should mobile phones be banned in schools?
NSW Minister for Education Rob Stokes has ordered a review into phone use in schools. He said the review would look at the risks and rewards of social media. The review will ultimately decide whether to ban mobile phones in NSW schools.
Finnish education expert Pasi Sahlberg also recently said he believed mobile phone-related distraction is a main reason for Australia sliding down in PISA rankings.
Parents and teachers have similar concerns about cyberbullying and safety, as well as technology distracting from schoolwork. But do the benefits of having phones in classrooms (such as contact with parents, access to mental health text lines, and learning opportunities) outweigh the risks?
The Conversation, June 28, 2018
Environmental issues
Environmental issues
The top ten environmental conflicts - useful for research topic ideas
- Land use/farming/deforestation
- Renewable energy
- Mega-mining
- Fuel extraction
- Waste industry
- Sand mining
- Fishing
- Nuclear power
- Pesticide use
The Conversation, June 4, 2018
Why don't women go into trades?
Why don't women go into trades?
The number of women in the manual trades in Australia has barely budged in the last 20 years. While lower-skilled and lower-paid jobs like hairdressing have increased the number of women being employed, manual trades like electricians, carpenters and mechanics have remained at incredibly low levels.
Women make up just 3% of those employed in the electrotechnology and telecommunications trades, and only 1% of those working in construction, engineering and automotive trades.
Governments, industries and education providers have long tried to overcome skills shortages in the manual trades by encouraging more women to pursue these careers. But the gender imbalance remains entrenched due in part to a culture that resists diversity.
The Conversation, June 1, 2018
Should wild horses in the Kosciuszko National Park be culled?
Should wild horses in the Kosciuszko National Park be culled?
New South Wales’ proposed brumby legislation – which abandons plans to cull feral horses in Kosciuszko National Park – is a dangerously reckless policy that will escalate environmental impacts, escalate costs, and put horses at risk of extreme suffering.
The New South Wales’ Deputy Premier John Barilaro was reported as saying the cultural significance of the brumbies needed to be recognised.
But the evidence regarding feral horse (brumby) impacts on the environment in the Australian alps makes it clear that large numbers of feral horses are incompatible with maintaining the ecological values of Kosciuszko National Park.
The Conversation, May 22, 2018
Should live animal exports from Australia be banned?
Should live animal exports from Australia be banned?
Horrific footage of animals dying in extreme heat aboard ships has raised fresh questions over the future of Australia’s live export industry.
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has announced a review of the sheep trade to the Middle East, while the federal Labor party has promised to ban the trade if it wins the next election. Farmers’ groups argue that the industry is too important to halt.
So what do we need to do to humanely sell Australia’s meat to the world? Can the meat be processed on our shores? And with many of Australia’s livestock destined for the Middle East or Indonesia, can religious slaughter requirements be met while avoiding unnecessary animal suffering?
The Conversation, May 9, 2018
Should students be grouped by ability?
Should students be grouped by ability?
Parents and teachers are interested in ensuring children perform their best in school. Some believe putting smart students together can improve educational outcomes. But evidence about the impact of classmate or schoolmate quality (as measured by, say, test scores) on individual performance in an educational setting is only just beginning to accumulate.
Establishing the presence and size of peer effects in education is important. Targeted educational interventions for one group of students may spill over to their classmates. Deliberately sorting students may raise the average attainment of pupils in ways other interventions may not.
The Conversation, April 9, 2018
Why is the Australian music industry dominated by male artists?
Why is the Australian music industry dominated by male artists?
The Australian music industry continues to be dominated by men across almost every level, and an earning gap between male and female APRA members has been revealed by Hack’s third annual women in music investigation.
However, some improvements toward gender equality were made in 2017, with a greater representation of women on some festival line-ups like Laneway; plus there were some increases in the number of women receiving certain award nominations, receiving music grants, and appearing in triple j’s Hottest 100.
Meanwhile, the state of the industry made its way into academia last year, with the University of Sydney’s Business School’s Skipping a Beat report. The authors claimed there is “chronic gender inequality” in the Australian music scene, and handed down five key recommendations to start mending the gender divide.
Earlier this year, Oprah Winfrey predicted that there is a "new day" is on the horizon for women in the film industry. Could there be one for the music industry too?
Triple J, Hack, March 8, 2018
Should the date for celebrating Australia Day be changed?
Should the date for celebrating Australia Day be changed?
Today, even if they are hazy about detail, white Australians increasingly appreciate that January 26 is for many Indigenous people a day of sadness, reminding them of dispossession, violence and suffering.
Some disagree, claiming to speak for ordinary Australians unimpressed with the latest iteration of political correctness.
The Conversation, January 22, 2108
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