Opinion & Commentary
Opinion and Commentary contains media articles written by CIS researchers.
Categories
Why Learning is a Hard Haul Without a Dad
Research over the last few years has shown that, on average, children from sole parent families have significantly lower levels of school achievement than children from couple families. This lower achievement...... Read More
Global Warming Raises Political Temperature
The National Party convention at Tweed Heads a few weeks ago made clear its opposition to Australia ratifying the 1997 Kyoto treaty’s protocol on greenhouse gas emissions. This stand places it at odds...... Read More
Picking Winners
In a recent article in The Evening Post (19/6/00), Michael Wilson advocated the selective promotion of new industries by government and ridiculed those in New Zealand who fear that this would only end...... Read More
It is no sin to be rich
A discussion of the morality of wealth is timely. In the past year, there has been an increase in the attention given to the behaviour of wealthy people. The courtroom battle between members of Doug Moran’s...... Read More
Schools Need to be Truly 'Public'
Discussions about the future of education in Australia tend to be constricted by a narrow view of the options. They revolve around the assumption that a public-private dichotomy in schooling is inescapable....... Read More
Government is no Santa: the costs of stimulus
The government stimulus might look good now, but the long term consequence will be upward pressure on interest rates, fewer jobs in export industries and higher taxes.... Read More
Why Kevin Rudd’s ‘security community’ will annoy Asia
New Zealand places a lot of emphasis on multilateralism and a rules-based foreign policy. Last week, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd argued that Australia should learn lessons from the set-up of the...... Read More
Not bedfellows, but a political attraction
As a new year begins, the combination of Saddam Hussein's execution, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca by Muslims and another outburst by the cartoon-like Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali maintain the place of politics...... Read More
Lessons from across the Tasman where policy strength has brought economic growth
A new political leader is promising some radical ideas. Massive tax cuts, reduced government spending (compared to his rival at least), work for the dole and a 90 day trial period for new workers are all...... Read More
Swap obstacles for teachers
We need new methods to make maths teaching more appealing to the right type of people for our schools.... Read More
Gulliver Unbound: Can American Rule of World?
In this lecture, Josef Joffe asks if the US can sustain this position of power in international politics. World history suggests no, as power always begets counter power, with signs of the US dominance...... Read More
Threshold issues for a tax system that creates jobs
An important debate is taking place in Australia about the future of welfare, taxation and award wages. The outcome of this debate will influence the shape of social policy for years to come.... Read More
Aid has failed the Pacific
Per capita income has grown at less than 1% a year in the Pacific during the past 30 years. In some islands it has declined. Population has grown at more than 3% a year. The discrepancy between population...... Read More
Continental drift: inching away from federalism
The gradual shift of power among Australia’s governments, examined by Robert Carling in The Australian Financial Review, 30 April 2010... Read More
Building Prosperity
From protected backwater on the global periphery to outward-looking player, Australia has come a long way since the closed economy settings of the Menzies to Fraser era. Considerable progress towards greater...... Read More
Beyond the Classroom: How Parents Influence Their Children's Education
In a society that demands a high level of education and skill for a successful and stable future, a decent education is becoming increasingly important. A child’s education is the shared responsibility...... Read More
Beyond Romanticism: Questioning the Green Gospel
Over the past forty years, environmentalism has emerged as one of the major political movements that transcend national boundaries. Its concerns have motivated people from a variety of backgrounds to become...... Read More
Report card for schools
In a paradigm shift, four reports on education reform commissioned by the federal government agree on decentralisation, school choice, non-government schools, and private investment.... Read More