Australia’s plantation boom has gone bust, so let’s make them carbon farms

Jason Alexandra (Policy Partners and Charles Darwin University) argues that the boom and bust cycle for Australian plantations', with its focus on using fast money for fast-growing eucalypts, mostly for pulpwood, has obscured other important opportunities.

What ‘fair’ superannuation would look like

Rodney Maddock (Monash University) writes in The Conversation that many of the perceived problems with concessional superannuation taxation arrangements would be resolved by removing the ability and requirement to make contributions from before-tax income. Governments compel us to do lots of things without any incentive payments, and combining compulsion and concessions in the treatment of superannuation unnecessarily complicates the system and leads to unfairness.

The case for removing dividend imputation is not substantiated by evidence

Kevin Davis (Australian Centre for Financial Studies) comments in The Conversation on the lack of evidence to substantiate the case for removing dividend imputation in Australia.

Where to now on university reform?

Andrew Gunn (Australia and New Zealand School of Government) surveys the current state of higher education policy in The Conversation and points to four key things the new minister should do.

Australia's treatment of refugees is a profound injustice

Julian Burnside (Adjunct Professor, Australian Catholic University ) surveys Australia's policies toward refugees in The Conversation. This article is based on his delivery of the 2015 Hamer oration. It should be a very sobering read. If you don't really understand Australia's refugee policy, you should read this article. If you think you do understand, you will naturally want to read this article. Australia is now judged overseas by its behaviour as cruel and selfish.