Edited by the Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University of Technology

New Research

State of the climate

16 March 2010Australia will experience more extremely hot days and fewer cold ones and conditions will be wetter in the north and drier in the south, according to this snapshot of the national climate.

Food prices and emissions trading

05 March 2010This paper argues that food price rises under an ETS would be modest, while extreme weather events from climate change will pose a much larger risk on food price stability.

Indigenous cultural and natural resource management and the emerging role of the Working on Country program

05 March 2010This paper explores government support for Indigenous land and sea management in the context of the current environment agenda.
Adapting to climate change in Australia

Adapting to climate change in Australia

19 February 2010This paper outlines the Australian government’s role in adaptation, which includes building community resilience and establishing the right conditions for people to adapt; taking climate change into account in the management of Commonwealth assets and programs; providing sound scientific information; and leading national reform.

The environmental sustainability of Australia's private rental housing stock

15 February 2010This positioning paper is the first output of a research project examining the potential opportunities for and barriers to improving the environmental sustainability of Australia's private rental stock.
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Climate change

Low Carbon Growth Plan for Australia

16 March 2010This report provides an economy-wide blueprint for how Australia can achieve an ambitious reduction in greenhouse gas emissions while building a growing low-carbon economy.

Urban planning

Dwelling, land and neighbourhood use by older home owners

Dwelling, land and neighbourhood use by older home owners

15 March 2010This study considers the social and economic implications for the housing needs of older people, the efficiency of housing stock use and the suitability of housing land and neighbourhood design for the needs of an ageing society.

State of Australian cities 2010

08 March 2010This report draws together existing data and information across a range of economic, social and environmental parameters to provide a national snapshot of the 17 Australian cities with populations over 100,000 at the 2006 Census.

Commentary

Risky referendums

09 March 2010Referendums promised by Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott are fraught with political risk, writes Norman Abjorensen in Inside Story

Stuck in an unfair federal system

16 February 2010Water regulation is being strangled by an out-of-date constitution, argues George Williams in the National Times

Peter and the environment laws

20 January 2010Will the federal government miss a once in a decade chance to protect the environment in a very concrete way, asks Tom Arup in the National Times
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Audio

The big water debate: The truth and lies about water politics

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16 February 2010  Water is essential for life. Discussion of water needs to take account of some fundamental truths: South Australia is the driest State of the driest inhabited continent. We also have more variable rainfall than other continents. Both rainfall patterns and subsequent run-off are being altered significantly by climate change.

Moving the development agenda forward in today's world

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15 February 2010Helen Clark discussed the role of the United Nations Development Programme and the importance of aid in managing ongoing priorities, while remaining flexible to the ever present threat of natural disasters and conflicts.

Sustainability

Video

World Wide Views on global warming Australia

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16 November 2009The Australian World Wide Views on Global Warming Event, where 105 people from all walks of life came from all over the country to put their views forwards on the issues facing climate change negotiators at UN talks.

Water dreamers: How water and silence made Australia

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14 September 2009This presentation argues from an historical perspective and concludes that water will determine the future of Australia.

Housing

The Brotherhood's social barometer: living the second fifty years

09 March 2010The fourth Social Barometer examines the extent of disadvantage among older Australians through indicators of people’s capabilities covering eight key dimensions of life, including employment, income, health, housing, safety and social participation.

Websites

CSIRO Northern Australia Sustainable Yields Project

05 October 2009This site provides critical information on historical, recent and likely future water availability in a part of Australia that is renowned for its high rainfall, pristine tropical environments and relatively low development.

Triple Helix Consulting

21 September 2009Triple Helix Consulting works with progressive organisations in the public and private sectors to develop and implement more sustainable policies and practices.

Most viewed: This week

1
Low Carbon Growth Plan for Australia
2
Beyond corporate responsibility: the 'spiritual turn' and the rise of conscious business
3
State of Australian cities 2010
4
The future of outstations/homelands
5
Farming the future: the role of government in assisting Australian farmers to adapt to the impacts of climate change

Jobs

Policy Adviser
NSW Business Chamber
North Sydney

Events

Conference
ACOSS National Conference 2010: A vote for equity
25 Mar 2010 - 9:00am - 26 Mar 2010 - 5:00pm
Canberra
Conference
Workforce Policy in 2010 and Into the Future
31 Mar 2010
Sydney
Conference
Show Me The Change A National Conference on ‘Evaluation of Behaviour Change’ for Sustainability
4 May 2010 - 6 May 2010
Melbourne

Books

Racial Folly: A twentieth-century Aboriginal family

Racial Folly: A twentieth-century Aboriginal family

  • Gordon Briscoe
  • ANU E Press
A memoir and history of an Aboriginal family living under the race laws, practices and policies of Australia in the twentieth century.
Darwin's Armada: How four voyagers to Australasia won the battle for evolution and changed the world

Darwin's Armada: How four voyagers to Australasia won the battle for evolution and changed the world

  • Iain McCalman
  • Penguin Australia
Darwin's Armanda is both a gripping adventure story and a brilliantly enlightening work of history, for the first time portraying the Darwinian revolution as a collective enterprise forged in Australasia.

Noticeboard

Online conservation game wins communicator awards
17 June 2009

Mission H2o, an online game themed around water conservation and developed by Swinburne University students and staff, has received two prestigious design awards.

Policy Guides

Count down to Copenhagen summary sheets

The Climate Action Network Australia has prepared seven summary sheets to provide a clear track through the climate negotiations of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

10-08-09

Topics

APO