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Editor's note
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The 2017 budget, described by some as “Labor-lite”, has put Bill Shorten under pressure for the first time since the 2016 election. While Shorten pitched last night’s budget-in-reply on fairness, Natalie Mast says Labor needs a new set of scare tactics and alternative policy measures to seize back the political momentum.
And if you want a fun new way to get all the expert analysis The Conversation provides, take a look at our new chatbot. It’s an interactive program that delivers you the stories you want, when you want them, right to your phone. Just search for “The Conversation” from within the Facebook Messenger app (which is separate to the main Facebook app) and get started. You can subscribe to a morning digest, and even tailor the digest to include only the topics you’re most interested in. Read all about our chatbot here.
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Top story
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Bill Shorten used his budget-in-reply speech to appeal to middle Australia.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
Natalie Mast, University of Western Australia
Labor needs to convincingly discredit the 2017 budget to the point that the government cannot use it to help restore its standing in the eyes of voters.
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Politics + Society
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
As the government sought to fireproof itself in Labor's areas of strength, the budget produced a new challenge for Bill Shorten.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
Opposition leader Bill Shorten has said Labor will oppose the budget's increase in the Medicare levy hitting taxpayers on incomes under A$87,000.
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Jim Middleton, University of Melbourne
Friend and colleague Jim Middleton pays tribute to legendary ABC journalist Mark Colvin, who has died aged 65.
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Arts + Culture
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Prudence Black, University of Sydney
Being an air hostess in the 1960s was a sought after job. But bodies were carefully policed: at Qantas, if a hostess put on too much weight she could be rostered off until she'd lost it.
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Business + Economy
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Peter Whiteford, Australian National University
The government is reinforcing the dichotomy between "them" and "us" with this budget's welfare changes, but it lacks solid evidence of effectiveness.
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Harry Scheule, University of Technology Sydney
The budget included a few measures to make the banking sector more competitive, but they don't go far enough.
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Science + Technology
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Marc Emyr Huw Jones, University of Adelaide
A national icon in New Zealand, tuatara are the only living example of a reptile group that was widespread 60-240 million years ago.
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Drew Evans, University of South Australia
Budget 2017 has allocated A$100 million to boost innovation and advanced manufacturing. But can it fill the hole left by automotive industry closures?
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Konstans Wells, Griffith University; Andrew Storfer, Washington State University; Douglas Kerlin, Griffith University; Hamish McCallum, Griffith University; Menna Elizabeth Jones, University of Tasmania; Paul Hohenlohe, University of Idaho; Rodrigo Hamede, University of Tasmania
It's the Tasmanian devils that enjoy the highest survival and breeding success who're more likely to get the fatal facial tumour disease.
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Environment + Energy
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Andrew Lowe, University of Adelaide; Ben Sparrow, University of Adelaide
A new survey has identified millions of hectares of forest in dryland areas, a finding that boosts the total global forest cover by 9% and has significant consequences for carbon budgets.
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Tayanah O'Donnell, University of Canberra; Josephine Mummery, University of Canberra
The federal government has defunded a national research agency that looks at how best to adapt to climate-related impacts such as floods, droughts and heatwaves - a decision that could cost lives.
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Education
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Tracey Bretag, University of South Australia; Rowena Harper, University of South Australia
It doesn’t matter how assessments are given to students, as students can still find a way to cheat.
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Nicola Bell, The University of Queensland
We are not hard-wired to read. It has taken thousands of years of practice to forge connections in our brains to help us do this.
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Health + Medicine
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Joanna Waloszek, University of Melbourne; Monika Raniti, University of Melbourne
Sleep problems can lead to anxiety and depression, and vice versa. General improvements to sleep might be beneficial, whether a person has anxiety, depression, or both.
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Sebastian Rosenberg, University of Sydney
The latest federal budget leaves mental health chronically underfunded, with inequitable access to services, and without a clear national strategy.
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William Isdale, University of Melbourne
What if one of the most essential items in the hospital of the future is a 3D printer?
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Cities
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Chris Martin, UNSW; Hal Pawson, UNSW
The budget is pushing for a much-needed reboot of the social housing sector. What it isn't offering is extra funding to renew and expand run-down housing stocks.
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Columnists
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Featured jobs
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University of Melbourne — Parkville, Victoria
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Australian Catholic University — Fitzroy, Victoria
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The Palladium Group — Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta, Indonesia
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Featured events
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National Library of Australia Theatre Parkes Pl W, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2600, Australia — Australian National University
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35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia — University of Western Australia
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The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia — University of Sydney
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