In this special guest post, Lecturer in Statistics and Political Economy at the University of Melbourne Dr Mike Pottenger provides an economic analysis of the market for people smuggling between Indonesia and Australia. He explains why national policies aimed at reducing the number of boat arrivals here are unlikely to have as much impact as
Read moreIt’s a common tool in the Australian media; all the more-so as we move into a ‘less news, more analysis’ mix among newspapers, broadcast media and online. Opinion writers – so desperate in their need to justify their attention-grabbing headlines – are not just selecting only the facts that suit their arguments these days; they’re
Read moreThe new Australian government’s agenda when it comes to asylum seekers and their rights is both far-reaching and regressive. Slashing the overall refugee intake, for example, is a travesty given Australia’s developed economy, while removing rights of appeal and legal assistance for asylum seekers already in Australia flies in the face of this country’s ‘Fair
Read moreAustralia’s new Prime Minister Tony Abbott will be claiming a lot of mandates during the coming term of Federal Government. Some, including his determination to repeal the carbon tax, are likely to meet formal opposition within the Parliament. Other parts of his “Real Solutions” policy platform, however, can expect far easier passage through both the
Read moreWell. At least all the ads have stopped now. Finding something positive to say about the current Federal election campaign has become more difficult the longer it has gone on, such that many are just thankful it all ends – one way or another – tomorrow evening. So much talk, so little debate. So many
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