Opinion & Commentary
Opinion and Commentary contains media articles written by CIS researchers.
Categories
Opportunity for major reform
The highlight of the Gonski report is that it is student-centred; shifting the focus from the demands of schools to the needs of children. Where the report falls short is that it is not entirely sector-neutral.... Read More
Murray's Future Fund brace is broken
David Murray's defence of the Future Fund can only inspire doubt about the ability of sovereign wealth funds to enhance Australia's prosperity.... Read More
EU referendum is a bad Irish joke
Economically, whatever happens in Ireland will not be decisive for the future of the euro. That is more likely being decided in Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, Athens and Lisbon. But to the rest of Europe watching...... Read More
Minimum wage is a two-edged sword
Like New Zealand’s young workers, Australia’s apprentices are also highly vulnerable to market fluctuations. Many of them are in their first job, have fewer skills, and therefore have less to offer...... Read More
Literacy problems hidden behind culturally separate careers
One of the primary reasons for the problems experienced by AHWs is ambivalence about the need for English literacy and numeracy. When the role was first created in the 1970s in the Northern Territory,...... Read More
Finkelstein would take us back before 1695
The beginnings of freedom of the press can be traced back to the lapsing of the Licensing Act in England in 1695. This meant publishers did not require that their publications be licensed by the government...... Read More
What price an education?
Instead of viewing poor academic performance among some Aboriginal children as an Indigenous problem, government should view it as an educational problem. As Alison Anderson, Independent MLA for the Northern...... Read More
Striking a French euro tinderbox
Either Sarkozy or Hollande will win France’s presidential elections, but the project of European cooperation and integration will surely lose. And the political uncertainty dominating the coming months...... Read More
Staffing reform a crucial issue
More autonomy for principals to hire, fire and pay teachers for performance is needed, writes Jennifer Buckingham.... Read More
The hypocrisy of Europe's bankers
As the eurozone crisis has now seemingly calmed down and my friend’s updates become more ecstatic by the week, I am afraid that we are edging ever closer towards his dream scenario. To most Europeans,...... Read More
Work act flaw threat to growth
Job security is a major bone of contention between unions and employers under the Fair Work Act.... Read More
A zero-sum carbon game
There is no point trying to subsidise reductions in carbon emissions if the total amount of emissions is capped anyway.... Read More
Liberal democracies do it their own way
Arab Springs don’t bring Western clones... Read More
Religious freedom must not be taken for granted
The importance of religious belief is both derided and attacked in our public debates. Tony Abbott's Christian faith is often used as a stick with which to poke, if not beat, the Opposition Leader... Read More
Returning to old European rivalries
Europeans may one day wake up in an environment of revived national rivalries, new political extremism and a continent without the open borders they once took for granted. This could be a tragedy even...... Read More
Why a sovereign wealth fund won't work
Many of the desirable objectives of a sovereign wealth fund could be achieved through greater use of enforceable fiscal policy rules that would enable politicians to make long-term commitments to responsible...... Read More
Gonski: less for private schools
The Gonski report's model as it applies to non-government schools has several redeeming features. It provides for a minimum per student public funding entitlement for all non-government schools regardless...... Read More
Future Funds or Future Eaters? The case against a Sovereign Wealth Fund for Australia
It has also been argued that Australia needs a SWF to better manage the macroeconomic consequences of the “terms of trade” boom, such as the rising Australian dollar and the so-called “Dutch disease”....... Read More
Independent thinking for financing future
Health already devours over 10 per cent of GDP each year and 70% of health funding is funnelled through federal and state government programs. Because health dollars are not spent efficiently the community...... Read More
Gonski review must not hobble choice
On Monday, the report of the federal government’s Review of Funding for Schooling, commonly known as the ‘Gonski review’ will be released, along with the government’s initial response. So far,...... Read More