Our new PM faces some big challenges in Indonesia

Editor's note

Scott Morrison heads to Indonesia this week on his first overseas trip as prime minister. Without a great deal of foreign policy experience, and lacking the steadying influence of Julie Bishop, he’s bound for uncharted waters.

Susan Harris Rimmer says Morrison will need to rely heavily on his new foreign minister, Marise Payne, and Trade Minister Simon Birmingham to help manage Australia’s relations and restore the country’s reputation for good governance overseas.

And on the subject of seas, Carolyn Philpott writes that Australian composers are increasingly looking south to Antarctica for inspiration. From the sound of ice cracking to rising sea levels, they are highlighting through music the urgent work of scientists.

Justin Bergman

Deputy Editor: Politics + Society

Top story

Morrison will need to rely heavily on the experience of his new foreign minister, Marise Payne, and deputy leader, Josh Frydenberg. Andrew Taylor/AAP

With Bishop gone, Morrison and Payne face significant challenges on foreign policy

Susan Harris Rimmer, Griffith University

Morrison has his work cut out for him restoring Australia's reputation for good governance overseas and repairing relations with China.

Cities
We hardly ever trust big transport announcements – here’s how politicians get it right Crystal Legacy, University of Melbourne We need to consider why transport infrastructure is so controversial, and how politicians can ensure they have the public's trust when making announcements for all transport projects.

Environment + Energy
How Brazil can beat the odds and restore a huge swathe of the Amazon Danilo Ignacio de Urzedo, University of Sydney; Robert Fisher, University of Sydney Brazil has set itself a target of restoring almost 50,000 sq km of the Amazon rainforest by 2030. But it won't get there without changing its policies and how it engages with local people.

Science + Technology

Curious Kids: Where are all the other galaxies hidden?

Lisa Harvey-Smith, CSIRO

We are in the Milky Way. If you travelled on an extremely fast spaceship for more than two million years, you would reach our neighbour, the Andromeda galaxy. All other galaxies are even further away.
Australia needs boldness and bravery from Karen Andrews, the new minister for industry, science and technology

Emma Johnston, UNSW

Her track record suggests Andrews is likely to be a strong advocate and effective representative for the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sector. But many challenges remain.

Arts + Culture

Sledging songs, penguins and melting ice: how Antarctica has inspired Australian composers

Carolyn Philpott, University of Tasmania

Scientific research into the effects of climate change in Antarctica - and its history of intrepid exploration - is inspiring contemporary Australian composers.
Au revoir Mirka Mora, your joie de vivre will live on

Sabine Cotte, University of Melbourne

Mirka Mora survived the second world war to carve out a unique place for herself in the Australian art world. Over six decades, her creativity was legendary.

Business + Economy

The Indigenous employment gap is widening and we don’t know how to fix it

Zoe Staines, Queensland University of Technology

Governments have relied on a series of employment programs to tackle the employment gap, but these have not yielded positive outcomes.
The same but different: what passengers like about Uber

Mary Tate, Queensland University of Technology

Discussions with Uber riders bring out a wide range of opinions about the platform, especially when it comes to ethics.

Health + Medicine

I have painful periods, could it be endometriosis?

Mike Armour, Western Sydney University; Jane Chalmers, Western Sydney University; Melissa Parker, ACT Health

Endometriosis can cause a number of severe symptoms, including period pain. But painful periods alone aren't a surefire indicator of endometriosis. Here's what else to look out for.
We can all help to improve communication for people with disabilities

Bronwyn Hemsley, University of Technology Sydney; Harmony Turnbull, University of Technology Sydney; Joanne Steel, University of Technology Sydney; Lucy Bryant, University of Technology Sydney; Melissa Brunner, University of Technology Sydney

There's a lot we can do to make society more accessible for people with communication disability.

Politics + Society

View from The Hill: Julie Bishop will be open to post-politics offers

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

Bishop could presumably expect to receive some attractive job offers in the next few months, and if the right one came along, domestic or international, she would be taking it.
Poll wrap: Worst reaction to midterm PM change in Newspoll history; contrary polls in Dutton’s Dickson

Adrian Beaumont, University of Melbourne

Australians have never liked sitting PMs being deposed by their own parties - but the outrage over Malcolm Turnbull's destruction is the greatest in modern history.
Book Review: Behrouz Boochani’s unsparing look at the brutality of Manus Island

Alex Reilly, University of Adelaide

Boochani bears witness to the deterioration of the human spirit on Manus Island, where he's been detained with hundreds of other asylum seekers for the last five years.