Opinion & Commentary

Opinion and Commentary contains media articles written by CIS researchers.

Sorry, Mr Swan, the Australian fair go is still going strong

09 May 2013 | The Drum

In the lead up to what is likely to be a budget bloodbath on 14 May, Treasurer Wayne Swan has come out swinging. Instead of trying to steer Australia back into the black, he has resorted to the electoral... Read More

We are many: the futile fight over Australian identity

24 Jan 2013 | The Drum

Stop squabbling about what it means to be Australian. Our shared commitment to liberal democracy and individual freedom means we're free to live how we choose. Read More

Coal hoax fails to dig deep without a martyr to the cause

15 Jan 2013 | The Age

Protesters need to face legal consequences to sway public opinion. Read More

Hummus, Hamas and the hopeless naive

18 Oct 2012 | Quadrant Online

In the wake of the violent Islamist riots, concerns that western governments will seek a political accommodation and try to appease Islamofascist grievances by limiting freedom to criticise Islam are not... Read More

Open up debate on welfare

10 Feb 2012 | The Canberra Times

Poor people are often those who miss out on adequate health care: people who can’t afford to go to private hospitals and don’t have the capability to advocate for themselves. Read More

Who needs four uni degrees or even one for that matter?

29 Nov 2011 | Crikey

Most jobs don't require university degrees. A key purpose of education is to give students a chance to signal their aptitude and diligence, rather to acquire knowledge for later vocational use. Fostering... Read More

Paid leave for dads a useless, cynical waste of money

06 Sep 2011 | The Punch

Getting dads more involved in parenting is a noble goal. Unfortunately, there is very little evidence that paid paternity leave will help realise it. Read More

Women's rights push dads aside

03 Sep 2011 | The Australian

This is the disturbing significance of the controversial NSW birth certificate decision. That no gay spokesperson has expressed concern for the father and child stolen from each other speaks volumes about... Read More

Degrees of difference

22 Aug 2011 | Online Opinion

Many people have taken umbrage at this arguing that having a separate form for some remote communities is an example of 'positive discrimination'. Few people seem to understand the broader implications... Read More

Living together demands civility

19 Aug 2011 | The Canberra Times

We should not rush to stifle public discussions on the off chance that an unhinged individual (whether politically motivated or not) misconstrues them as a clarion call to violence. Nor should the far-right... Read More

Brits recoil from teaching respect for authority at home or school

15 Aug 2011 | The Australian

Following last week's riots in Britain, politicians and commentators have similarly been asking the wrong question. What caused thousands of (mainly) young males to torch buildings where they live, loot... Read More

Census apartheid: separate form separates a community

10 Aug 2011 | The Drum

The use of a separate Census form for some discrete Indigenous communities is not only state-sanctioned apartheid but statistically invalid. Read More

OOHC not working for at-risk kids

19 Jul 2011 | The Drum

The causes of the OHHC crisis care are multifaceted. But the consensus among experts is that at the heart of the crisis is the increasing numbers of children with 'high needs' entering care because of... Read More

Beware pink totalitarianism

15 Jul 2011 | The Spectator

Gay marriage dissenters deserve the same respect as advocates Read More

Let's hold the line on immigration

Oliver Marc Hartwich | 27 Jan 2011 | Business Spectator

Rebuilding the flood affected parts of Queensland will be an enormous task with big labour market implications. But should great decisions for the nation’s future population be made on the fly? Or do... Read More

Glory be to Gaia, I'm dreaming of a green Christmas

Oliver Marc Hartwich | 20 Dec 2010 | The Australian

Christmas is when two great religions collide: Christianity and environmentalism. Read More

A Politically Correct Christmas is Un-Australian

Jeremy Sammut | 17 Dec 2010 | Spectator Australia

Why undermine the process assimilation? Read More

Leftist class chatter no longer matters in UK

Peter Saunders | 01 Dec 2010 | The Australian

Intellectuals love to peddle the myth of an unfair, privileged society, but they're wrong. Read More

Interventionist child protection policies are right for the liberal right

Jeremy Sammut | 02 Oct 2010 | The Australian

The state has a responsibility to protect children from inadequate parents. Read More

It's time to bring back a bit of class to rail travel

Oliver Marc Hartwich | 29 Oct 2009 | The Sydney Morning Herald

For a city that wants to play in the first league of the world’s great cities, our dated intercity train connections are not good enough. Read More

Ferguson shown the door by media and the mob

Jeremy Sammut | 29 Sep 2009 | The Newcastle Herald

Managing the media takes precedence over dealing with controversial issues in an honest, open and effective manner. Read More

The writing is on the wall when officialdom overlooks profanity

Peter Saunders | 12 Jan 2008

I left Britain nine years ago, but even after nine Australian summers, I still find Christmas in the sun a novelty. This is why every year I join the backpackers and tourists for a day on the beach at... Read More

No worries on Aussies' generosity

Sinclair Davidson | 24 Aug 2005 | The Courier Mail

The Australian welfare lobby often calls for increases in taxation. Presumably this is to fund increases in welfare expenditure. Read More

Our leaders have a responsibility to uphold standards

Nicole Billante | 28 Jun 2002 | The Australian

The name-calling and personal attacks so readily used by Australian politicians—such as Mark Latham's derogatory remarks about the Prime Minister demonstrated this week—show a complete lack of civility. ... Read More

Fighting an uncivil war to save society

Nicole Billante | 29 May 2002 | The Daily Telegraph

It starts with an unthinking act of selfishness, becomes rudeness, and before you can say 'I'm all right Jack', civilisation as we know it is threatened. Read More

Time to fit the crime

Barry Maley | 02 Feb 2001 | The Courier Mail

The first duty of government is to protect the citizen’s person and property, and to do so consistently, humanely and effectively. Balancing these requirements is not easy. Rising crime rates in Queensland,... Read More

Publications

The Fraught Politics of Saying Sorry for Forced Adoption: Implications for Child Protection Policy in Australia

Jeremy Sammut | 19 Mar 2013 | Issue Analysis

Many Australians will believe a national apology for forced adoption is overdue. But there is a danger that the apology will... Read More...
What’s New with Anti-Semitism?

Paul Kelly, Peter Kurti, Philip Mendes | 13 Aug 2012 | Policy Forum

Criticism of Israeli government domestic policy has intensified in Australia with the emergence of the international Boycott,... Read More...
When Prophecy Fails

Peter Saunders | 09 Sep 2011 | Special Publications

In their 2009 book, The Spirit Level, Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett argued for the ‘benefits’ of income redistribution.... Read More...
FEATURE: Beyond the Culture Wars - Arts Policy for a New Generation

Cassandra Wilkinson | 20 Aug 2011 | POLICY Magazine

Arts policy can learn from sport's bottom up approach.
FEATURE: Anti-Discrimination Law and the Attack on Freedom of Conscience

Ben O'Neill | 20 Jun 2011 | POLICY Magazine

Anti-discrimination law is targeting belief as well as behaviour.

View All