
Burning fossil fuels is responsible for most sea-level rise since 1970
Apr 12, 2016 06:27 am UTC| Insights & Views Law Nature
Global average sea level has risen by about 17 cm between 1900 and 2005. This is a much faster rate than in the previous 3,000 years. The sea level changes for several reasons, including rising temperatures as fossil...

Tasmania's 'smoke-free generation' is undemocratic age discrimination
Apr 12, 2016 05:11 am UTC| Insights & Views Law
Tasmania is considering legislation to create a tobacco-free generation by banning sales to persons born after July 1, 2000. It is a tobacco prohibition law, albeit one whose endgame will play out for future generations...
Ideas for Australia: Consensus versus the culture wars – getting the balance right
Apr 12, 2016 05:05 am UTC| Insights & Views
In recent years, political point scoring and wedge politics have made it hard to have a calm, reasoned political debate on a range of issues from same-sex marriage to refugees or climate change. However, potentially...

Why Australia does not need a royal commission into the banking industry
Apr 12, 2016 04:54 am UTC| Insights & Views
Is a Royal Commission into banking required? I think not. There have been many problematic incidents adversely affecting customers in the banking and financial sector in Australia although whether they are more frequent...

Lessons from semi-arid regions on how to adapt to climate change
Apr 12, 2016 04:50 am UTC| Insights & Views
Rising temperatures and more extreme, unpredictable climate events are making sustainable livelihoods tough for many people living in semi-arid regions of the world. To adapt, local communities, and especially farmers, use...

Investing in big data could improve research quality in Australia
Apr 12, 2016 02:12 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology
The Productivity Commission is running an inquiry into whether the government can provide better access to the data it collects for universities and other groups. Commercial and public sector innovation alike can...

Does the NHS really face a £30 billion funding gap?
Apr 12, 2016 02:02 am UTC| Insights & Views
It has been accepted without question that the NHS faces a funding gap of 30 billion by 2021-21. This was the figure quoted in NHS Englands Five Year Forward View. The reports authors claim that the figure was calculated...