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Editor's note
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Bill Shorten stole a march on the Coalition this week with a promise to narrow the gap between male and female superannuation balances by adding government-provided contributions to government-provided paid parental leave. He said it would “have a big impact down the track”.
But the Grattan Institute’s Owain Emslie and Brendan Woods find nothing of the kind. For middle income retirees who had had children, the impact would be “minuscule” – worth only $1.50 a week after the pension means test. A better way of supporting women at risk of poverty in retirement, they say, would be to boost rent assistance.
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Peter Martin
Editor, Business and Economy
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Top story
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Labor’s plan to pay super to women on paid parental leave would barely boost their retirement incomes.
Shutterstock
Brendan Coates, Grattan Institute; Owain Emslie, Grattan Institute
Bill Shorten says Labor's plan to make super contributions on behalf of women on paid parental leave would have a "big impact". We find its impact would be be minuscule.
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Do you pull out your phone the instance you’re bored? You’re a zombie checker.
rawpixel/Unsplash
Joanne Orlando, Western Sydney University
Our unproductive 'zombie' screen hours can creep up – but they don't need to rule us. Here are four steps to help you use new tools to monitor and change your technology habits.
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Karnatukul during excavation in 2014, note the square holes dug below the rock walls..
Peter Veth
Jo McDonald, University of Western Australia; Peter Veth, University of Western Australia
They were looking to study rock art at a remote desert site but what they found showed people had been using the place almost since the first people arrived in Australia.
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Business + Economy
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Justin Malbon, Monash University; Harmen Oppewal, Monash University
Product disclosure laws are meant to help insurance buyers make informed rational decisions. Our research shows more must be done to protect consumers.
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Politics + Society
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Andrew Singleton, Deakin University; Anna Halafoff, Deakin University; Gary D Bouma, Monash University; Mary Lou Rasmussen, Australian National University
A new study reveals Australian teenagers do not relate to established ideas on religion and spirituality. Instead, they fall into six broad groups and show great tolerance for others' ideas.
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Denis Muller, University of Melbourne
Media moguls' alleged involvement in bringing an end to Malcolm Turnbull's prime ministership raises serious questions about their influence, and media accountability.
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Health + Medicine
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Shane Nanayakkara, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute; Anna Beale, Monash University
The new Apple Watch is making waves for being able to record an electrocardiogram (ECG) and share it. An ECG can tell you what's going on with your heart.
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Ric Day, UNSW; Andrew McLachlan, University of Sydney
With so many different types out there, it's hard to know what sleep medications are safe to use. Here's a guide.
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Education
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Peter Goss, Grattan Institute
New analysis shows wealthy parents at advantaged Catholic primary schools could actually afford the increase to school fees under the needs-based model.
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Geoff Sharrock, University of Melbourne
Australian tertiary education policy and funding debates are better served by domestic data.
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Arts + Culture
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Alastair Blanshard, The University of Queensland
When Spartacus and 70 or so of his comrades revolted and escaped from their gladiatorial school near Capua in 73 BC, everyone imagined the matter would soon be dealt with. But his rebellion has continued to inspire political movements.
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Julianne Schultz, Griffith University
We need a new national narrative, for reasons of diplomacy, trade and social cohesion and to grapple with many global challenges. The humanities and social sciences will be vital in shaping it.
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Cities
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Peter Chambers, RMIT University; Tom Andrews, University of Melbourne
Australia has had an 80% increase in cyclist deaths in 2017-18. With drivers at fault in most collisions, their attitude and behaviour should be the main targets for change.
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Gerry Redmond, Flinders University; Jennifer Skattebol, UNSW
Children growing up in the most disadvantaged suburbs also lack the social opportunities to develop skills and aspirations that would improve their prospects in life.
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Environment + Energy
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Erin O'Donnell, University of Melbourne; Avril Horne, University of Melbourne
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has suggested changing the rules to allow 'environmental' water to be diverted to drought-hit farms. But the idea would be far less straightforward in practice.
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Tim O'Hara, Museums Victoria
It's quite hard to tell when a sea creature is extinct – there's always hope it will turn up somewhere.
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Podcasts
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Andrew Dodd, University of Melbourne; Matthew Ricketson, Deakin University
The news of Mark Knight's Serena Williams cartoon broke while we were at a conference in South Africa. We showed it to some local academics to gauge their reactions. And journalist and researcher Glenda Daniels explains how the African National Congress government reacted to the UK phone hacking scandal.
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University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia — University of Sydney
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University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia — University of Sydney
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University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia — University of Sydney
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University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia — University of Sydney
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