South Africa's state owned companies: a complex history that's seldom told

Jul 21, 2019 11:56 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

The problems of South Africas state owned enterprises are in the headlines every day. Yet many have existed for over 80 years. Why were they established in the first place and how have they survived this long? Their...

No-deal Brexit: does latest parliamentary vote make it less likely?

Jul 21, 2019 11:54 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

MPs voted on July 18 to back an attempt to stop the UK government from shutting down parliament to push through a no-deal Brexit in late October. Four cabinet ministers abstained and 17 Conservative MPs rebelled over...

How our obsession with performance is changing our sense of self

Jul 21, 2019 11:53 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

We live in a society obsessed with performance. For both young and old, competitions, awards and rankings are an inescapable feature of life. How well we do in the classroom, at work, on the sports field or even in...

How public libraries can help prepare us for the future

Jul 21, 2019 11:53 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

For generations, libraries have helped people explore knowledge, information and culture. The invention of the public library meant more and more people got to use these collections and services. In the digital age, a...

Friday essay: why old is new again - the mid-century homes made famous by Don's Party and Dame Edna

Jul 21, 2019 11:53 am UTC| Insights & Views Real Estate

Of all the mantras for modernism, the one I think most befitting for Australian mid-century modern houses is Lesprit Nouveau The New Spirit. These houses represented more than style; they reflected a new Australian spirit...

Domestic abuse or genuine relationship? Our welfare system can't tell

Jul 21, 2019 11:51 am UTC| Insights & Views Law

In Australias social security laws, the couple rule is used to determine if a person is in a relationship, tying access to Centrelink payments to the income and assets of their partner. For victims of domestic violence,...

Heat stroke: A doctor offers tips to stay safe as temperatures soar

Jul 21, 2019 11:50 am UTC| Insights & Views Health

I easily remember laughing at Wile E. Coyote trying to catch the Road Runner while watching Saturday morning cartoons as a child. I can still see the Coyote walking slowly through the sweltering desert, sun high in the...