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Those of us old enough to remember the 1993 federal election know that taxes can easily cause leaders to stumble. During the campaign, Opposition Leader John Hewson struggled to explain how a GST would change the cost of a birthday cake, helping to sink the Coalition’s chances.
Both Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese have lost their footing on tax this week.
Dutton, in the midst of a very patchy campaign, floated the idea of indexing personal income tax. As Michelle Grattan writes, this would be “the most radical proposal we’ve heard for the election, apart from the nuclear policy”.
So is it a genuine “aspiration”? A thought bubble? Whatever the case, landing such a big idea in this way points to the serious problems with the Coalition’s campaign.
Meanwhile, Albanese kicked an own goal in Wednesday’s debate when he insisted the government hadn’t commissioned modelling from Treasury on negative gearing. In fact, Treasurer Jim Chalmers had requested advice on the issue.
Both sides are no doubt looking forward to shifting down a gear over the Easter weekend.
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Amanda Dunn
Politics + Society Editor
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
If Dutton is serious about his tax plan, this is the most radical proposal we’ve heard for the election, apart from the nuclear policy.
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Marina Yue Zhang, University of Technology Sydney
With the United States and China fighting over access to critical minerals used in tech and defence, Australia finds itself in a unique strategic position.
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Cassandra Burke Robertson, Case Western Reserve University
Judge James Boasberg’s order stops short of holding any government officials in contempt, but leaves open the possibility for these sanctions.
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Amalendu Misra, Lancaster University
El Salvador’s leader, Nayib Bukele, has cut a deal with Trump to house alleged gang members deported from the US.
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Katherine Stevens, Murdoch University; Peter R. Whipp, Murdoch University
In an Australian study, Year 7 students reflect on their recent move to high school. And what would help make this big change easier.
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Jennifer McKay, University of South Australia
Avoid using the handshake emoji ‘🤝’ if you’re ever unsure. And always keep any business-like arrangements on a more formal footing.
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Ken Nosaka, Edith Cowan University
Sometimes the body knows what’s best for us, even if we’re not aware of the science.
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John Long, Flinders University
In The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire, science writer Henry Gee considers how long we’ve got, and how we can extend our time on Earth.
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Christian Tietz, UNSW Sydney
A New South Wales senate enquiry into public toilets is underway. Now’s our chance to talk about how public toilets communicate social values.
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Stephen Gaunson, RMIT University
The Narrow Road to the Deep North is a masterpiece of the Australian war genre.
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Tessa Charles, Monash University; Ulrik Egede, Monash University
The proposed Future Circular Collider could answer questions about the nature of the universe – and have practical benefits along the way.
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Trang Nguyen, University of Adelaide; Jack Hetherington, University of Adelaide; Patrick O'Connor, University of Adelaide
A survey shows people with healthy eating habits tend to waste less food than those who focus on choosing ethical and environmentally friendly products.
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Rachelle Martin, University of Otago; Kaaren Mathias, University of Canterbury
When people with lived experience contribute to the design and delivery of health care and research, it means services are used more and fairer outcomes achieved.
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Politics + Society
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James Kay, Flinders University; Sam Elliott, Flinders University
Young women drop out of sport and many never return, but there are ways to encourage them to get back into it.
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Adam Simpson, University of South Australia
The law against insulting the Thai monarchy has become a common tool for silencing Thai activists. Now, a foreign academic has been targeted.
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Health + Medicine
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Natasha Yates, Bond University
There are a number of reasons people are ‘microdosing’ weight-loss drugs. But here’s what to consider before you try it.
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Arosha Weerakoon, The University of Queensland
Gap teeth are popular again thanks to White Lotus actor Aimee Lou Wood. But think twice before filing a gap in your teeth or smoothing off rough edges.
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Science + Technology
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Diane Colombelli-Négrel, Flinders University
But the intricate melodies these colourful little birds sing don’t just indicate how they behave.
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Freya Marie Jackson, Murdoch University; Giles Hardy, Murdoch University; Kit Prendergast, University of Southern Queensland; Wei Xu, Murdoch University
The findings of a new study have important implications for native bee conservation, particularly in urban and agricultural areas.
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Environment + Energy
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Brianna Le Busque, University of South Australia
Many of us form highly meaningful connections with our leafy companions – including mourning a plant when it dies.
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Kat Bolstad, Auckland University of Technology
The first confirmed footage of a juvenile colossal squid in its natural habitat shows a delicate and graceful animal – far from the “monster” narrative we see all too often.
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Education
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Adam Guastella, University of Sydney; Kelsie Boulton, University of Sydney; Natalie Silove, University of Sydney
A new strengths checklist aims to help parents, carers and clinicians more easily identify a child’s skills, talents and positive qualities.
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Kate E. Williams, University of the Sunshine Coast
Understanding how the brain functions is important for teachers. We surveyed more than 500 early childhood educators about their neuroscience knowledge.
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Arts + Culture
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Andy Ward, University of the Sunshine Coast
The recent track attacking Labor proves one thing: the Coalition doesn’t understand hip-hop.
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Andrea Jean Baker, Monash University
The Correspondent is based on the jailing of Australian journalist Peter Greste and his Al Jazeera English colleagues. It is a masterclass in political subtlety.
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Books + Ideas
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Christine Feldman-Barrett, Griffith University
Yoko Ono has long been abused as a homewrecker – and worse. A new biography celebrates her joyful positivity in adverse circumstances – and celebrates her as an artist.
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Kate Cantrell, University of Southern Queensland
This week, it will be 30 years since the Oklahoma bombing. Now, it’s back on the cultural agenda, as the right-wing extremism that drove McVeigh is on the rise.
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Business + Economy
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Marina Yue Zhang, University of Technology Sydney
With the United States and China fighting over access to critical minerals used in tech and defence, Australia finds itself in a unique strategic position.
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Vivien Holmes, Australian National University; Julian Webb, The University of Melbourne; Susan Ainsworth, The University of Melbourne; Tony Foley, Australian National University
A major new study of Australian lawyers shows workplace culture is critical to improving staff wellbeing.
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