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Editor's note
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As Australia’s army of commuters heads off to work at the start of another week, you don’t need to be Nostradamus to know they’ll endure traffic jams and packed trains, buses and trams. Commuters’ frustrations have reached the point that politicians, from Prime Minister Scott Morrison down, are promising multibillion-dollar ‘congestion busting’ infrastructure.
But what if there’s another, more cost-effective way? What if workers simply had more freedom to adjust when and where they work so they avoid travelling at peak times? As John Hopkins writes, research suggests flexible working is both achievable and popular. And even small reductions in commuter numbers can get traffic flowing and ensure your bus or carriage still has space for you to squeeze in.
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John Watson
Section Editor: Cities + Policy
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Top stories
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If more of us were free to work from home, fewer of us would be stuck in traffic.
Daria Chichkareva, fkigali/Shutterstock
John L Hopkins, Swinburne University of Technology
Two-thirds of surveyed workers work from home one day a week on average, but could do at least half their work out of the workplace. If they commuted less often, congestion could be greatly reduced.
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Paracetamol overdoses can cause serious liver damage.
From shutterstock.com
Rose Cairns, University of Sydney
The annual number of paracetamol poisoning cases in Australia has increased by 44% over the last decade. To tackle this problem, we need tighter regulation around the way paracetamol is sold.
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The biggest difference between the current protest movement and the 2014 Umbrella Movement is the striking solidarity among the various groups of demonstrators. Everyone feels they are ‘in the same boat’ together, new research shows.
Roman Pilipey/EPA
Samson Yuen, Lingnan University
A survey of 8,000 Hong Kong protesters shows that participants increasingly feel that radical protests are the most effective way to make the government heed public opinion.
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Burnt out cars in Tingha, New South Wales, in February 2019.
AAP/Dave Hunt
Richard Thornton, Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC
Many Australians are unprepared for the worse-than-average bushfire season ahead - even those in high-risk areas.
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Arts + Culture
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Mark Liu, University of Technology Sydney
While fashion companies and governments are making commitments to reduce fashion waste, consumers have an opportunity to push them to act more quickly.
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Business + Economy
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Nathan S Consedine, University of Auckland
Disgust has its evolutionary advantages, but is also a barrier to more sustainable consumption. Marketing may help.
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Sarah Duffy, Western Sydney University; Aila Khan, Western Sydney University; Patrick van Esch
Encouraging fathers to take paternity leave has positive, perhaps even surprising, results.
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Politics + Society
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Tanya Notley, Western Sydney University; Michael Dezuanni, Queensland University of Technology
Of all the news stories examined in a snapshot study, only 11% included the views or experiences of young people. And that inclusion was usually via adults.
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Liam Elphick, University of Western Australia; Alice Taylor, Bond University
This proposed bill goes much further than other discrimination laws and weakens existing protections for many Australians.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Michelle Grattan discusses the increasing strain on the Australia-China relationship following the arrest of Dr. Yang Hengjun, and the government's draft religious discrimination legislation.
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Education
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Jessica Richards, Western Sydney University; Daniela Spanjaard, Western Sydney University; Ryan Storr, Western Sydney University
Offering unpaid positions for what should be a paid job is against the law in Australia. What should graduates do then if they're looking to get a foot in the employment door?
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Stewart Riddle, University of Southern Queensland
This week's NAPLAN results show the writing skill of students is actually dropping as they progress from Year 3 through to Year 9.
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Health + Medicine
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Christina Parker, Queensland University of Technology; Helen Edwards, Queensland University of Technology; Kathleen Finlayson, Queensland University of Technology
The body tries to plug a wound quickly to stop germs getting in through broken skin and making you sick. But behind the scenes, your blood is working hard to repair a wound.
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Featured jobs
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RMIT University — Melbourne, Victoria
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University of Melbourne — Parkville, Victoria
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La Trobe University — Bundoora, Victoria
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Department of Parliamentary Services — Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
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Featured events
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RMIT University, The Green Brain, Building 22, Level 7, 330 Swanston Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia — RMIT University
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ATC Building, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, 2308, Australia — University of Newcastle
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101 Currie St, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia — University of South Australia
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Moorooduc Highway, Frankston, Victoria, 3199, Australia — Monash University
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