Are we there yet?
“No, but maybe if we can make a decision soon we will be there by 2050. Although I’m not sure if we will be going by road, or train, or maybe by plane if that new connecting railway goes ahead.” When it comes to the future of our transport system, this is one of...
Getting politically interested- A student’s guide
So you’re interested in politics. Maybe you’re living up to your new year’s resolution to drink less eggnog and be more aware of the world and all that jazz. Possibly the looming federal election has you bothered and you’re trying to figure out who to vote for, or perhaps you’re trying to get into the...
Plain packaging three months on
Smoking restrictions have reached a new high with the recent introduction of plain packaging by the Australian Government. As late as the 1960s, cigarettes in Australia were openly advertised and glorified by the media as cool and trendy: “What could be more refreshing?” asked a smooth voice in a 1950’s commercial . The answer? Newton’s...
Jill Meagher’s story: social media in action
Last weekend, another young life was prematurely and unnecessarily taken away. What truly motivated Jill Meagher’s killer to spontaneously snatch the 29-year-old woman from a street in Melbourne’s north, we will likely never know. What is clear, however, is that Ms Meagher’s story has resonated with Melburnians in a profound way. As of 1pm Friday...
Leaving an IMPRINT on Melbourne
STARTLING figures released by Victoria Police earlier in September revealed that Victoria’s crime rate for the past year had risen for the first time in over a decade. The 2011-12 rate increased by 6.8 per cent overall to 7020 per 100,000 population, prompting questions over the efficacy of Baillieu’s hard-line stance on crime fighting. Crime...
Poor Gun Control; The Means Not The Motive.
Talk is cheap and life is precious so put your smartphone away. James Holmes, the now infamous Batman Shooter will be under speculation for months; whether it be as an example of poor gun control laws in the US or the negative connotations of any “Hollywood Influence”. What the majority of the discussion, outside of...
Obama Needs To Rise and Grind
Having been to America in the recent months, I have seen first hand how rapidly the economy is declining and the enormity of the social divide. It is shocking to see what state the country is in. At the helm of this mixing pot of crises is Barack Obama, America’s first African American President. Rising...
Politics: this holiday’s biggest blockbuster
Politics: It sounds like the bi line for this holidays biggest blockbuster; hookers, unions, sex and politics. Written, directed, starring and produced by world renowned Julia Gillard, featuring Craig Thompson. ‘ Sex and Power’ will change the way you view Australian politics forever. The latest controversy under the Gillard government has left the wider...
Family Tax Benefits: Potential Miss for Education.
Wayne Swan’s 2012-13 battler’s budget was released last week to very mixed reactions and a lukewarm reception. The promised surplus budget only reaches a modest $1.5 billion, although this is expected to rise to a healthy $7.5 billion within the next three to four years. The savings are moderate, with most done through the slashing...
A Call to Commit To Australia’s Aid Promise
Australia is the second wealthiest nation in the world based on average income, according to the 2011 Credit Suisse Global Wealth report. The wealth rate per Australian adult is four times what it was a decade ago, and the percentage of Australians living on more than US$100,000 a year is eight times that of the...
The fight for a future
The recent campaign launched by the Socialist Party, ‘FightBack!’ has attracted itself a lot of support from those who it aims to bring about change with. While of course the campaign has no age restriction on who can participate, it was originally set up in order to give a voice to young people who...
Out with Austerity, In with Socialism and Coalitions.
It is clear that change is sweeping through Europe once again. President Nicholas Sarkozy has become the 11th European leader to succumb to defeat since the beginning of the Global Financial Crisis in 2008. With a winning margin of 52 per cent, Francoise Hollande became the president elect. This continues the trend of...
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