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Editor's note
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From John Howard to Joe Hockey, governments have tried to fix our tax system, to make it fairer and bring in vital revenue. But it seems tomorrow’s budget won’t significantly change this problem.
Rebecca Cassells and Alan Duncan analysed the last 20 years of government taxes and found individual taxpayers are paying for the lack of reform.
Meanwhile, the education sector is still reeling from the mid-year budget update capping student places at 2017 levels. Omer Yezdani writes that for the first time in 35 years, federal government policy is set to erode the skills base for our economy, and reduce the number of people from disadvantaged backgrounds accessing a university education.
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Jenni Henderson
Section Editor: Business + Economy
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Top story
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Ken Henry, John Howard and Joe Hockey have all attempted to reform Australia’s tax system.
Emil Jeyaratnam/AAP
Rebecca Cassells, Curtin University; Alan Duncan, Curtin University
There's never been a better time for tax reform. But as governments have tried (and stumbled) over the years the burden has shifted to individual taxpayers and the latest budget looks no different.
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Education
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Omer Yezdani, Australian Catholic University
Discontinuing the demand driven system will mean less people are able to get a higher education, particularly groups of people who are already at a disadvantage.
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Nick Kelly, Queensland University of Technology; Jeremy Kerr, Queensland University of Technology; Les Dawes, Queensland University of Technology; Natalie Wright, Queensland University of Technology
The recently released Gonski report contains a recommendation to supporting teacher collaboration. Researchers in Queensland have been conducting research on how design thinking can foster this.
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John Pardy, Monash University
30 skill priority areas will be free from the beginning of 2019 in Victoria. Students will feel the most benefit, while private providers say the policy is not equitable.
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Health + Medicine
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Prue Cormie, Australian Catholic University
Historically the advice to cancer patients was to rest and avoid activity. We now know this advice may be harmful to patients, and that every person with cancer would benefit from exercise medicine.
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Samuel Banister, University of Sydney; Richard Kevin, University of Sydney
Ephylone belongs to the growing class of designer stimulants called synthetic cathinones. The effects have been described as a mix between MDMA and cocaine, while others are more similar to ice.
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Environment + Energy
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Brendan Main, University of Technology Sydney
A toxic chemical produced by algae and linked to motor neuron disease has been detected in NSW rivers. Its presence - long suspected but now confirmed - could be linked to a disease hotspot in the Riverina.
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Atiq Zaman, Curtin University
Under a new target, 100% of Australian packaging will be recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2025. But this is not enough - we also need to ensure that recyclable materials are actually recycled.
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Anna Mortimore, Griffith University
Warnings that a tide of electric vehicles will cut Australia's tax income put the cart well before the (low-emissions) horse.
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Arts + Culture
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Antonia Finnane, University of Melbourne
The cultural appropriation debate has flared after an American teenager wore a qipao, a Chinese-style dress, to her prom. But the meanings around the dress are complicated.
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Joanna Mendelssohn, UNSW
The lively reconfiguring of the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman exhibitions means it is harder to work out which paintings the judges are considering as potential winners.
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Billy Griffiths, Deakin University
The battle to save the Franklin River - an exhilarating story of politics, cultural heritage and passionate environmentalism - captivated the nation in 1983.
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Politics + Society
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Roy Hay, Deakin University
What should have been a great year for Australian soccer has been let down by underwhelming fan interest and a distracting dispute between Football Federation Australia and A-League clubs.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
With the poll due in a year, people will view Tuesday's budget as coming from a government desperate for approval, presenting a smiling face.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The government is resisting pressure to phase out the trade, ahead of a review expected to recommend more stringent regulations.
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Steve Georgakis, University of Sydney
An independent review has recommended steps to clean up the sport. Tennis authorities must now demonstrate they have the will to take action.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Michelle Grattan speaks with Deep Saini about the week in Australian politics.
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Science + Technology
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Konstantinos Vavitsas, The University of Queensland
One way to make sensors small is to make them out of something that's incredibly small in the first place, such as DNA.
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David Blair, University of Western Australia
Out there in space there is no air. If you took your helmet off, all the air you need to breathe would whoosh out.
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Michael Lund, The Conversation
Funding for Australia's Space Agency is expected to be announced at Tuesday's federal budget. It's been a long campaign to get an agency up and running and The Conversation has followed the journey.
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Lyndsey Collins-Praino, University of Adelaide
'Mini brains' can be grown in the lab, and brains of decapitated pigs were recently 'kept alive' for a day and a half. But what makes a conscious brain?
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Cities
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Ilan Wiesel, University of Melbourne; Brendan Gleeson, University of Melbourne; Carolyn Whitzman, University of Melbourne; Ellen van Holstein, University of Melbourne; Professor Christine Bigby, La Trobe University
The NDIS is set to reshape Australian cities. But to achieve meaningful participation of people with disabilities, urban communities and services will also need to take action.
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Featured jobs
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La Trobe University — Bundoora, Victoria
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University of Melbourne — Parkville, Victoria
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Charles Sturt University — Orange, New South Wales
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Featured events
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Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf, Pyrmont, Sydney, New South Wales, 2009, Australia — Australasian Hydrographic Society
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New Law School Foyer, Level 2, Sydney Law School, Eastern Avenue, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia — University of Sydney
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CPC Lecture Theatre, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia — University of Sydney
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Melbourne Business School, 200 Leicester St, Carlton, Victoria, 3053, Australia — Australia New Zealand School of Government
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