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Editor's note
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These days it’s fashionable to take your politics with a heavy dash of cynicism. If Martin Amis was right to say that deploring the present was “the summit of idleness” the Australian press gallery looks fixated on besting Edmund Hillary. In fairness, they can’t avoid the truth. Even the measured and constructive Michelle Grattan today notes the alarming erosion of public trust, and the depressing reality that whoever wins in May will inherit a “bitter, sceptical, exhausted electorate”.
But it’s equally true that endlessly retelling the story of our political failures is a trap we must avoid. We have to start a different conversation, one about what really matters: how we can make things better, both for the planet and the many Australians who aren’t doing as well as they might.
Today we are launching a series of articles under the title Advancing Australia: Ideas for a Better Country. It’s an unashamedly earnest attempt to change the conversation just a little, from a sort of endless cry of outrage to a sober, evidence-based discussion of what’s going wrong and how we can make it better. Our Advancing Australia series covers topics from climate and energy, to Medicare, schools and advancing the cause of indigenous Australians. It is written by many of The Conversation’s most informed and thoughtful authors – Michelle Grattan, Warren Hogan, Stephen Duckett, Chris Wallace, Frank Bongiorno, Liz Allen, Susan Harris Rimmer, just to pick a few.
During the campaign these serious contributions to our public discussion will be collected into a book, to be released by Melbourne University Publishing. The book will be launched at a series of live events in major cities. Once we have details confirmed you will be invited to attend and help us change the public conversation.
In the meantime please participate virtually, and constructively, by reading this series and letting us know what you think.
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Top story
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With the Coalition and Labor presenting several policy differences, this can be seen as a very ideological election.
AAP/Lukas Coch
Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
As Australians' trust in politicians continues to slide, whoever wins the 2019 will need to work hard to restore it if it has any hope of bringing about genuine reform.
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Australia’s alcohol guidelines recommend women and men drink no more than two standard drinks per day.
Kelsey Chance
Nicole Lee, Curtin University
When it comes to drinking at risky levels, women are catching up to men. Problem is, women start to have alcohol-related problems sooner and at lower drinking levels than men.
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The new ‘Plan S’ initiative focuses on making all publicly funded research immediately fully and freely available by open access publication.
from www.shutterstock.com
Ritesh Chugh, CQUniversity Australia; Kenneth Howah, CQUniversity Australia
What happens to research that is funded by taxpayers? A lot ends up in subscription-only journals. But a new European initiative known as 'Plan S' could change that.
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Education
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Maria Chisari, University of Sydney
Students need to be able to manage their time, write to an academic standard, be aware of what constitutes plagiarism, make sure they know what support services are available to them, and have fun!
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Jim Stanford, University of Sydney; Richard Denniss, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
For economics to play a more helpful, critical role, it must abandon blind faith in the free market and embrace the social, historical, and environmental context in which economics actually happens.
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Catherine Attard, Western Sydney University
There are better ways to teach financial literacy than through school banking schemes.
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Business + Economy
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Joshua Krook, University of Adelaide
A maximum work week of 38 hours makes scientific sense. Working longer hours is bad for mental and physical health.
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Arts + Culture
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Anne Rees, La Trobe University
Isabel Letham was one of the first Australians to ride the waves. After moving to the US in 1918, she became an epitome of the modern woman: economically independent, physically daring and unapologetically ambitious.
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Vivienne Glance, University of Western Australia
A new production of Mozart's The Magic Flute uses animation to bring the fantastical opera to life.
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Cities
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Brian Feeney, The University of Queensland
Instead of spending ever more on roads, we can learn from Vancouver's use of congestion as a 'friend' in managing the development of transport networks and of the city itself.
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Environment + Energy
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The money will extend the Emissions Reduction Fund, set up under the Abbott government's “direct action” program, which at present has only $226 million uncommitted in it.
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Bronwyn Barkla, Southern Cross University
This native succulent is a tasty bush food.
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Politics + Society
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Published in Monday's Australian, the poll is status quo in virtually all the measures. The Coalition primary vote remains on 37%; Labor is static on 39%.
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Brenda Midson, University of Waikato
The International Association of Athletics Federations wants athletes who have differences of sexual development to medically reduce their testosterone levels. But this may be in breach of human rights.
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Cristina Rocha, Western Sydney University; Kathleen McPhillips, University of Newcastle
Brazil's John of God is a "spiritual healer" who performs surgeries without anaesthesia. Millions have experienced his unique healing methods, but now hundreds of women say he sexually abused them.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini and Michelle Grattan talk about the week in politics.
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Adrian Beaumont, University of Melbourne
It is often thought that the Tampa incident won John Howard the 2001 election, but an analysis of polling from the time shows the September 11 attacks had a far bigger impact on voting intentions.
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Featured jobs
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Griffith University — Nathan, Queensland
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RMIT University — Melbourne, Victoria
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University of Melbourne — Parkville, Victoria
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University of Western Australia — Perth, Western Australia
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Featured events
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31 Constitution Ave, Canberra ACT , Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia — Universities Australia
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Learning and Teaching building, 19 Ancora Imparo Way, Clayton campus, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia — Monash University
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Garden Building 10, Level 6 | Enter via Bowen Street (above STREAT cafe), Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia — RMIT University
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900 Dandenong Road, Caulfied East, Victoria, Victoria, 3800, Australia — Monash University
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