Archive
September 2012
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Jeff revisited: it was the best of times, the worst of times
29 September 2012
The year 2012 is notable for anniversary milestones of recent Victorian political history.
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The unholiest of PR spin
27 September 2012
The Catholic Church's sincerity must be challenged when it says it is putting abuse victims first.
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Helmets won’t cure football’s concussion headache
27 September 2012
We’ve heard a lot about concussion this AFL season. So, have they got their policy right?
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Wiping the slate clean: historic convictions for gay sex must be expunged
26 September 2012
Most of the current media relating to gay rights focuses on marriage equality. But for some older gay men, another issue is even more important.
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Active ageing – a risky labour policy
25 September 2012
Older workers have been over-represented in declining industries, under-represented in those experiencing growth and affected by reduced demand for unskilled workers.
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Muslim unrest doesn't denote cultural crisis
24 September 2012
Conservatives claim multiculturalism has failed. They're wrong.
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Pell should face up and 'fess up
24 September 2012
The victims of sexual abuse say they felt stripped bare, humiliated, embarrassed, bullied, belittled and disbelieved, Judy Courtin writes.
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Curfew could fuel more nightclub violence
21 September 2012
A proposed 1am curfew in areas such as King Street in Melbourne could exacerbate alcohol-fuelled violence outside nightclubs.
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Humble hero or hidden villain? The ongoing story of aspirin’s powers
21 September 2012
The humble aspirin has a remarkable history - but this story is not over yet.
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Marriage equality defeat: where to from here?
20 September 2012
The 98 to 42 defeat of the Marriage Equality Bill in the House of Representatives this week has almost been overshadowed by the circus that surrounded the lead up to the vote.
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Fringe groups sully image of Muslim world
19 September 2012
A small, radical element focuses outside attention in the worst way.
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China trade mission vital to Victoria's future
17 September 2012
It is not merely farsighted but absolutely essential to Victoria's future that delegations such as the Super Trade Mission to China take place, and that they be government-led.
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The Incredible Muslim Hulk proves to be no friend of Islam either
17 September 2012
This is the behaviour of a drunkenly humiliated people: swinging wildly with the hope of landing a blow, any blow, somewhere, anywhere.
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Hate speech or offensive speech: the human rights and wrongs of "Innocence of Muslims"
14 September 2012
Protests have erupted across the Middle East in response to a trailer for an obscure US-made film posted on YouTube, Innocence of Muslims.
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Domestic terror raids: a timely reminder of a persistent threat
14 September 2012
A man arrested yesterday in anti-terror raids in Melbourne has been charged by Federal Police with four counts of making a document likely to facilitate terrorist acts.
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Misunderstanding 9/11
12 September 2012
The fact that every mainstream media outlet continues to mark the terrible anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks is a victory for the perpetrators.
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New revelations of church abuse must bring justice for victims
11 September 2012
As the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into child abuse looms, Archbishop Denis Hart has forewarned his Victorian flock of imminent disturbing reports about past failures in responding to clergy sexual abuse.
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11 years on from 9/11: what progress?
11 September 2012
The day will come when 11 September is just another date on the calendar. But that time is still some way off.
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We are the creators of artificial life – both now and through the ages
11 September 2012
As humans, we create life. And we’re all familiar with the idea of artificial intelligence. But what about artificial life? What is it, and why should we care?
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Melbourne and mining history
10 September 2012
The current mining boom has revealed a range of controversies over who benefits from the extracted mineral wealth, an issue that has been played out in our history before.
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If Australia is egalitarian, its schools funding plan is wrong
10 September 2012
Wealthy elites and aspiration have stifled equal opportunity.
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The continuing tragedies of home birth and the rights of the future child
9 September 2012
Windsor Coroner's Court has heard that a mother died within hours of giving birth at home after a private midwife committed a horrifying catalogue of errors.
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Rediscovering White country
8 September 2012
It has been a good year for Patrick White, even though he died in 1990.
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Why would you DO that? Faking disability at the Paralympics
6 September 2012
People pretending to be disabled in order to compete in the Paralympics or Special Olympics is the fodder of many a bad-taste joke.
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Success in Paralympic archery is a matter of millimetres
6 September 2012
The accuracy obtained by top-level archers – at both the Olympics and Paralympics – using modern archery equipment would astonish most non-archers.
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Displays that risk blowin' in the wind
5 September 2012
A pair of Chanel scarves hang in decorative state at the entrance to an intimate exhibition at the Monash University Museum of Art (MUMA).
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Teachers learn at the school of hard knocks
5 September 2012
Everyone seems to be an expert when it comes to teaching. How difficult can it be to teach small children?
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Help women conceive with better information about menstruation
4 September 2012
Most couples who seek reproductive assistance are sub-fertile, rather than sterile, and may conceive naturally. But for this to be optimised, they need to accurately time intercourse on the fertile days of the menstrual cycle.
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We can all learn a lot from the Paralympics… and not just about sport
4 September 2012
It’s been a mystery to me, over many years spent watching sporting events such as the Paralympics, just how disability is classified. With the London Paralympic Games now well underway, I’m sure I’m not alone.
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Gillard’s ‘truths’ obscure the facts on schools funding
3 September 2012
The government has finally delivered its policy response to the Gonski report, including sweeping changes to how schools are funded and new benchmarks that aim to see Australian schools ranked in the world’s top five by 2025.