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Politicians of all persuasions, both here and abroad, spend a lot of time discussing migration. The debate often gets messy, devolving into misunderstood facts and figures, scapegoating and overly simplistic solutions. In a new five-part series, Population Panic, we asked experts to delve into the weeds of migration policy. This week, they’ll unpack how Australia’s migration system works – both practically and politically – and what its future might look like. But first, we take a step back and pose a basic but crucial question: what is migration for? As Alan Gamlen writes, while we often talk about migration
purely in economic terms, it’s much more than that. It’s an expression of the human condition. Keeping that in mind as we navigate the political debates will help us find better ways forward. P.S. Tomorrow is the last day of our annual fundraising campaign. If you’d like to contribute there’s still time to make a tax-deductible donation.
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Erin Cooper-Douglas
Public Policy Editor
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Alan Gamlen, Australian National University
Amid the fierce political debate about figures and systems, it’s easy to lose sight of the purpose of migration, to governments, individuals and society as a whole.
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Andrea Carson, The University of Melbourne; Finley Watson, La Trobe University
The Stefanovic saga represents a high-profile example of the transfer of journalism’s hard-earned credibility into a rapidly growing alternative media sphere.
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Dylan Bird, RMIT University
The former TV host can now follow a well-worn right-wing path in the US and UK. Getting fired was likely the best thing he could have done for his brand.
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Jose Quinteros, University of Sydney
The poultry industry is on high alert. But authorities have had years to prepare for this moment and plans are being put in place.
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Steve Georgakis, University of Sydney
It wasn’t pretty, but the Socceroos are through to the knockout stages of the World Cup after a tense stalemate against Paraguay.
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Dennis Altman, La Trobe University
Andrew Dodd and Matthew Ricketson have not written another biography of Rupert Murdoch, but a forensic account of how his empire intimidates and destroys.
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Art Cotterell, UNSW Sydney
Any talk of nuclear futures in space obliges us to learn from nuclear pasts.
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Katrina Grant, University of Sydney
The reflecting pool builds on a landscaping tradition of organising nature into orderly lines and geometric shapes. Nature did not always play along.
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Angela Jones, Edith Cowan University
High school students can skip exams and do an ‘enabling program’ in years 11 and 12. This can qualify them for certain undergraduate degrees.
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Politics + Society
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Phoebe Hayman, La Trobe University; Josh Sunman, Flinders University
To succeed, Community Strong will need to preserve community connections within their electorates, maintain their independence and ensure intra-party stability.
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Health + Medicine
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Patricia Morada Macabulos, Macquarie University; Anina Rich, Macquarie University
Two experts explain why staying focused, especially in our modern world, can be so hard.
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Business + Economy
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Luke Hartigan, University of Sydney
For some central banks, stores of gold can offer a shield against financial sanctions.
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Environment + Energy
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Catalina A. Musrri, University of Sydney; Georgina Wood, Flinders University
Many of Australia’s shimmering seaweed forests are disappearing as the oceans get hotter. It’s time for an insurance policy.
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Shaun Eaves, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; Cathrine Dyer, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington; James Renwick, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
When trust in institutions is weak, emergency warnings can become entangled with narratives about government competency and bureaucratic overreach.
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Paul McInerney, CSIRO; Brenton Zampatti, CSIRO; Darren Giling, CSIRO
In 2022-23, a vast plume of floodwater from the Murray River delivered thousands of tonnes of organic material to the ocean – and a feeding bonanza began.
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Science + Technology
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Brooke Zanco, Macquarie University; Carmen da Silva, Macquarie University
Scientists don’t know enough about the food habits of less social bees. Here’s why that urgently needs to change.
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Books + Ideas
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Niusha Shafiabady, Australian Catholic University
In her Quarterly Essay, Anna Goldsworthy treats AI as a mirror rather than a monster. Is humanity wise enough to live with a technology that amplifies our weaknesses?
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Elon’s free islands
“Gina Rinehart wants the Queensland government to GIVE Elon Musk an island so he can launch rockets. GIVE? The richest man in the world needs a handout? Why do these large corporations constantly need billions in government funding? Corporations expect us to pay our bills. Why can't they pay theirs?”
Mark Penman, Greenslopes, QLD 
Is soft power the way forward?
“In the article on what survival lessons Australia can learn from the Iran war, the author suggests alternative military strategies. What was not sufficiently discussed is soft power. We spend vastly more on defence than on soft power, not taking into account what we intend to spend on nuclear submarines. Soft power projection would provide far more security, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, than military options. We should reach out to Asia, especially Indonesia and the rest of Southeast Asia, and be accepted as part of it in both cultural and economic terms.”
Ranjan Yagoda
We'd love to hear from you. You can email us with your thoughts on our stories and each day we'll publish an edited selection.
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The Conversation AU/NZ
Melbourne VIC, Australia
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