The author of the controversial Silent Invasion argues it's not the book, but the reaction to it, that has highlighted something troubling in Australian intellectual life.

There is a widespread view that the middle class in Australia is doing it tough, that they are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain a decent standard of living and are suffering from mortgage stress. Indeed, some media reports have announced the end of the middle class dream. This paper tests a number of these...

There is no longer any doubt that rising concentrations of greenhouse gases are leading to dangerous change in the global climate. In Australia, public and political opinion finally shifted in late 2006, with record droughts and an early start to the bushfire season. The Stern Review in October 2006 and the Fourth Assessment Report of...

Is capitalism moral, immoral, or just plain amoral? Some societies have tried to do away with it. But more often than not it's all ended badly. Capitalism works. Its capacity to adapt and grow has enabled millions to live with material comfort hitherto only dreamt of. According to a recent poll, 75 per cent of...

The Federal Government’s greenhouse policy is mainly based on nuclear energy and clean coal technology. The policy includes some measures to promote alternatives like energy efficiency and renewable energy. However, these alternatives are viewed as secondary. The emphasis in the Government’s policy statements has been on clean coal technology and nuclear energy. To gauge the...