Government to provide more funds for prosecuting bank crime
The government has announced an extra $51.5 million to boost resources for the prosecution of criminal misconduct by banks and other financial institutions and the processing of civil claims.Of this, ...
Why you like coffee, and I choose tea – it's in the genes
Why does it cost so much to put a tea in a pot of hot water, anyway? from www.shutterstock.com Do you drink freshly brewed coffee to start off your day? Or is a cup of English breakfast tea a better o...
Omega-3 supplements in pregnancy reduce the risk of premature birth
The earlier a baby is born, the greater the risk of poor health. Cassidy RowellPregnant women who increase their intake of omega-3 long-chain fatty acids are less likely to have a premature birth, acc...
A tip for bankers ahead of the royal commission: be more like doctors
Doctors take vows to act in the best interests of their patients. They workShutterstockThe financial services royal commission resumes for its final round of hearings on Monday, and reappearing before...
How Australia's NRA-inspired gun lobby is trying to chip away at gun control laws, state by state
The SIFA gun lobby is running ads in Victoria targeting Labor in the hopes it can get more pro-gun independent MPs elected.Dean Lewins/AAPOne of the more noticeable ad campaigns in the upcoming Victor...
Friday essay: turning up the level of civilisation
Donald and Melania Trump in Paris last week. According to the Washington Post, the president has made 6,420 false or misleading comments in 649 days.Ian Langsdon/EPAIn October 2005 Stephen Colbert was...
Children in the car era: bad for them and the planet
Children's travel needs are a big factor in private car use.Pablo Rogat/ShutterstockChildren today spend more time in cars than previous generations. They also spend less time playing on the streets a...
Explainer: why the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is so important for keeping Antarctica frozen
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current keeps Antarctica cold. ShutterstockThe Antarctic Circumpolar Current, or ACC, is the strongest ocean current on our planet. It extends from the sea surface to the bot...
Grattan on Friday: Morrison government brings back memories of McMahon days
As the Morrison government thrashes around trying to stave off defeat or just save the furniture, it reminds one historian of the ill-fated McMahon administration.The run up to the Coalition’s 1...
Why early diagnosis of autism should lead to early intervention
Early intervention can help children with autism to develop their communication skills.from www.shutterstock.com, CC BY-NDResearch suggests children can be reliably diagnosed with autism before the ag...
Politics with Michelle Grattan: Derryn Hinch on a national ICAC and the Victorian election
The Senate this week passed a motion calling for the government to establish a federal anti-corruption commission. The government is more likely to beef up existing institutions but Justice Party sena…
There's no need for the 'Chicago principles' in Australian universities to protect freedom of speech
This week the government asked former High Court Chief Justice Robert French to head an inquiry into free speech on universities. Education minister Dan Tehan claimed it was because concerns had been …
Yes, a WhatsApp message could be subject to FOI – but you'd have to find it first
Secure messaging services like WhatsApp often feature in the news in the context of their potential use by terrorists. But paradoxically they are now used increasingly by Commonwealth government minis…
Marriage has changed dramatically throughout history, but gender inequalities remain
Same-sex marriage has been legal for a year in Australia, but more progress can still be made on gender inequality in marriages and cohabiting relationships. Jono Searle/AAPOne year ago, Australians w…
Toilets of the future must be designed with people in mind, not technology
Environmentally friendly toilets on display at the Reinvented Toilet Expo in Beijing on November 8.ShutterstockMost of you reading this article probably have a comfortable toilet that you use on a dai…
Cambodians await crucial tribunal finding into 1970s brutal Khmer Rouge regime
The tribunal in Cambodia's capital Phnom Penh is looking at whether some actions of the brutal Khmer Rouge regime meet the United Nations definition of genocide.Wikimedia CommonsA day of judgement is …
Rainbow pride flag's still flying, taking on new forms and meanings in our cities
A year ago, on November 15, the Australian Bureau of Statistics announced the result of the postal survey on same-sex marriage equality, a resounding Yes with 61.6% of the vote. Leading up to the anno…
Australia needs to triple its social housing by 2036. This is the best way to do it
Australia needs to triple its small stock of social housing over the next 20 years to cover both the existing backlog and newly emerging need. That is the central finding of our new research report on…
How anti-Semitic stereotypes from a century ago echo today
Two women hug before placing flowers at the Star of David memorial in front of the Tree of Life Synagogue, two days after a mass shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jared Wickerham/AAPA few weeks ag…
In defence of ASIC: there's more to regulation than prosecution
An irony of the banking royal commission is that it may end up having its greatest impact on an entity that isn’t a bank. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission and its shortcomin…
'Keep it in the ground': what we can learn from anti-fossil fuel campaigns
From the fossil fuel divestment movement to the Stop Adani campaign, in recent years we’ve seen a wave of climate activism that directlytargetsfossil fuels — both the infrastructure used t…
A super-Earth found in our stellar back yard
An artist’s impression of the surface of the planet orbiting Barnard's Star.ESO - M. KornmesserThe potential discovery of a planet orbiting Barnard’s Star – the second closest stella…
Micro-betting: a dangerous form of gambling luring in vulnerable Australians
An alarmingly high proportion of problem gamblers are using off-shore betting firms for 'micro-betting' on sports.ShutterstockAny sports fan is all too familiar with micro-bets, and the problems they …
Despite new findings, the jury is still out on whether omega-3 supplements reduce heart attacks
Omega-3s reduce the risk of blood clots and are anti-inflammatory.from shutterstock.comA recent widely-reported study has reignited debate around whether omega-3 supplements reduce the risk of heart a…
Opt-out period for My Health Record extended
The opt-out period for the controversial My Health Record scheme is being extended again – this time to January 31.This is the outcome of a deal between the government and the Senate crossbench…
Death doulas can fill care gaps at the end of life
Palliative care nurses, social workers and people from the funeral industry are among those who work as death doulas.From shutterstock.comWith continual advances in modern medicine, we’re enjoyi…
A knowing, modern yet mythic production of one of Hitler's favourite operas
The cast of Opera Australia's 2018 production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at the Arts Centre Melbourne. Jeff BusbyReview, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Melbourne.Australian productio…
Behind the judgment. Why the Federal Court tore up a $35m settlement between ASIC and Westpac over lending standards
Justice Perram has decided that some things are more important than quick settlements.ShutterstockVery rarely does a judge tear up a multimillion-dollar penalty signed up to by both the regulator and …