Memo to next president: Here's how to avoid our history of energy policy mistakes

Sep 20, 2016 05:52 am UTC| Insights & Views Law

With all of the hubbub surrounding this years presidential election, something important has slipped by with little notice: Despite the fact that it affects our economy, environment and national security, the candidates...

The future of the US Supreme Court is at stake no matter who wins in November

Sep 20, 2016 05:27 am UTC| Insights & Views Law

At a recent rally of Donald Trump supporters in North Carolina, Republican vice-presidential candidate Mike Pence said the result of the November presidential election would determine the shape of the US Supreme Court for...

Winners and losers from the government's compromise on superannuation

Sep 15, 2016 06:40 am UTC| Insights & Views Law

The government has watered down its superannuation reforms in the final release of the proposed changes. The superannuation contribution caps and the reforms to the non-concessional cap are less comprehensive than the...

State aid lessons for Australia from the Apple EU tax case

Sep 15, 2016 06:34 am UTC| Law

State aid is not necessarily the right forum to tackle tax avoidance by multinationals, but it is effective. The European Commissions case against Apple for receiving undue tax benefits from Ireland demonstrates the EU...

Media owners steer government away from reform in the public interest

Sep 15, 2016 01:53 am UTC| Law

The Turnbull governments media bill has been sent off to another Senate inquiry, despite protestations from the government and the industry over the need to pass it urgently. Communications Minister Mitch Fifields...

Social Media Revolution Series

Social media and defamation law pose threats to free speech, and it's time for reform

Sep 15, 2016 00:57 am UTC| Insights & Views Law

Recent discussion about freedom of speech in Australia has focused almost exclusively on Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. For some politicians and commentators, 18C is the greatest challenge to freedom of...

Gay Liberal senator denounces marriage plebiscite

Sep 13, 2016 06:54 am UTC| Law Politics

The governments proposed marriage plebiscite has been delivered a fresh blow with openly gay Liberal senator Dean Smith declaring he will not vote for it. Smith described the plebiscite as abhorrent and told Fairfax...