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Editor's note
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If you’re over 80 with a heart condition and have tried to get medical insurance for a trip to the United States, you will have discovered the meaning of the term “uninsurable”.
For many insurers it means no offer, not at any price. If no insurer is prepared to take on the risk, you’ve no choice but to face financial ruin on your own.
That’s the fate the Adani Group’s proposed Queensland Carmichael coal mine appears to have narrowly avoided so far.
While QBE and Suncorp have said no, an unidentified insurer has apparently said yes.
But John Quiggin argues it won’t be long until large-scale coal mining is completely uninsurable.
Insurers don’t like so-called natural disasters and are not particularly keen to help those that contribute to them.
Even more concerning for them, it is becoming increasingly easy for litigants to identify the companies responsible for large chunks of climate change and assemble cases against them.
There have been no successful suits yet, but insurers are in the business of anticipating risks and identifying those that aren’t worth taking on.
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Peter Martin
Section Editor, Business and Economy
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Top stories
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Insurers have to protect themselves against foreseeable risks. For insurers of fossil fuel projects, those risks are growing.
Shutterstock
John Quiggin, The University of Queensland
The decision of Suncorp to dump coal, just months after the re-election of the Morrison government, makes it clear that insurers can't afford wishful thinking.
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Queenslanders are drinking heavily when they go out and breathalyser tests show most don’t realise how drunk they are.
Jason Ferris, The University of Queensland; Barbara Wood, The University of Queensland; Cheneal Puljević, The University of Queensland; Peter Miller, Deakin University
Even after 'Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence' policies took effect in 2016, Queenslanders still drink more heavily on nights out. Reported levels of aggression are higher than in other states too.
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From Country to Culture:
Artist: Lisa Waup. Designer: Verner. Collection: Journeys.
Dylan Buckee
Alexandra Crosby, University of Technology Sydney; Jason De Santolo, University of Technology Sydney; Peter McNeil, University of Technology Sydney; Treena Clark, University of Technology Sydney
Indigenous fashion design today is being shaped by First Nations people at every level.
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Health + Medicine
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Joachim Sturmberg, University of Newcastle
Bureaucratic "red tape" has contributed to the current crisis in our aged care system. We need a system of accountability that focuses more on residents' outcomes, and less on processes.
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Erica Millar, La Trobe University
If NSW decriminalises abortion, women will be able to access a termination up to 22 weeks' gestation. But such cut-offs are arbitrary and should be abandoned.
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Science + Technology
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Alex Agostini, University of South Australia
Our body knows how it is moving and where it is because of a sense called proprioception, a 'sixth sense' that helps your body know where it is in the world. And it works even while you're asleep.
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Education
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Euan Graham, La Trobe University
Australia must develop the intellectual acumen to see the world through China’s leaders’ eyes to manage the relationship on its own terms.
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Politics + Society
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A J Brown, Griffith University
Australian laws make it inevitable for whistleblowers to be charged whenever national security might be involved, even when the information is in the public interest.
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Rod Glover, Monash University; Beth Noveck, New York University
Our new research shows that public servants are eager to become innovative public problem solvers, but their leaders are standing in their way.
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Environment + Energy
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Jaime Gongora, University of Sydney; Federica Di Palma, Earlham Institute
In the wake of decades of violence, ex-guerrillas in Colombia are making conservation part of the path to peace.
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Jacqueline Williams, University of New England
The world needs to move towards sustainable agriculture – but what is that, exactly? Australia urgently needs coherent policy.
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Business + Economy
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Adrian R. Camilleri, University of Technology Sydney
Your trust in online consumer reviews may be misplaced. Check your ability to spot real from fake reviews with our quiz.
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Featured jobs
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Queensland University of Technology — Brisbane City, Queensland
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University of Melbourne — Parkville, Victoria
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La Trobe University — Bundoora, Victoria
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Featured events
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245 Punt Road , Richmond, Victoria, 3121, Australia — Niagara Galleries
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UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, 2052, Australia — UNSW
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Camperdown, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia — University of Sydney
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