Opinion & Commentary
Opinion and Commentary contains media articles written by CIS researchers.
Categories
Sorry, Mr Swan, the Australian fair go is still going strong
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
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
Protesters need to face legal consequences to sway public opinion. Read More
Hummus, Hamas and the hopeless naive
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Gay marriage dissenters deserve the same respect as advocates Read More
Let's hold the line on immigration
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
Christmas is when two great religions collide: Christianity and environmentalism. Read More
A Politically Correct Christmas is Un-Australian
Why undermine the process assimilation? Read More
Leftist class chatter no longer matters in UK
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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