|
When it comes to fuel security, successive Australian governments have taken an attitude of “she’ll be right”. As Bass Strait’s oil wells dried up and uncompetitive domestic refineries went to the wall, Australia went from self-sufficient in oil to heavily dependent on imports. We’re now the world’s biggest importer of diesel for fuelling trucks and farm equipment.
The Albanese government has been scrambling to secure supplies amid the worst energy shock on record. Yesterday, it announced plans for a public reserve of 1 billion litres of diesel and aviation gas, and incentives for fuel companies to store more.
As Tina Soliman-Hunter writes, these measures are sensible – just well overdue. Australia was deeply vulnerable to a disruption of fuel supply. It’s time, she writes, to plan for real security, so the next big oil shock will pass us by.
|
|
Doug Hendrie
Deputy Environment + Energy Editor
|
|
Tina Soliman-Hunter, Macquarie University
Greater public fuel reserves will be held in Australia and more fuel kept in private stocks. The government’s new fuel plans are sensible – just late.
|
Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
To be financed off-budget and implemented fully by 2030, the plan includes $3.2 billion for a government-owned storage facility. But details are scarce.
|
Ben Phillips, Australian National University
Research shows where those cost-of-living stresses are greatest. It’s not the vast bulk of middle income Australia, but working age welfare recipients.
|
Becky Freeman, University of Sydney; Christina Watts, University of Sydney
Letting a global tobacco giant give evidence to a parliamentary committee behind closed doors is one of many lobbying tactics Australia has allowed.
|
Genevieve McArthur, Australian Catholic University
Functional literacy describes the skills needed for everyday life in our complex society. Improving it for adults may be Australia’s biggest challenge.
|
Laurie Berg, University of Technology Sydney; Bassina Farbenblum, UNSW Sydney
Researchers found pervasive worker underpayment in Australia, with two-thirds of temporary visa holders paid less than they were legally owed.
|
Wesley Morgan, UNSW Sydney
The Santa Marta climate talks showed many countries want to move ahead with plans to end the use of fossil fuels, once and for all.
|
Corey Martin, Swinburne University of Technology
Children’s podcasts are a fast-growing part of the audio industry. Here are five that work particularly well for shared listening.
|
Manuel Esperon-Rodriguez, Western Sydney University; Rob McDonald, City University of New York; Tirthankar Chakraborty, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Cities around the world rely on trees to keep temperatures lower. New research shows trees are remarkably effective – but can’t do it all
|
Politics + Society
|
-
Tahu Kukutai, University of Waikato; John Bryant, University of Waikato; Polly Atatoa Carr, University of Waikato
New Zealand’s population structure is changing rapidly, yet the country has no comprehensive strategy to intervene or adapt to demographic shifts.
-
Milad Haghani, The University of Melbourne
Hitting a large animal at speed can be catastrophic and the risks vary by time of day, season and location.
-
Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The head of the Australian Federal Police says the government has been investigating the women who travelled to Syria since 2015.
|
|
Health + Medicine
|
-
Trevor Mazzucchelli, Curtin University
Finding the right psychologist isn’t just about who’s available. Here’s what to ask, what to look for, and how to make sure the approach fits your needs.
-
Ada Cheung, The University of Melbourne
Don’t cut your patches in half, as this stops them working. There’s no need to ration your supplies – here are other options to ease your menopause symptoms.
|
|
Business + Economy
|
-
Carla Liuzzo, Queensland University of Technology
Supporters of the “degrowth” movement say that capitalism and consumerism have run their course.
-
Angus Dowell, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Big tech is investing heavily in AI infrastructure. For countries like New Zealand, there are clear gains – but also important trade-offs.
|
|
Education
|
-
Melissa Fong-Emmerson, Edith Cowan University; Braden Hill, Edith Cowan University; Claire Lambert, Edith Cowan University
New research asks Indigenous students what matters when deciding whether or not university is for them.
|
|
Environment + Energy
|
-
Changlong Wang, Monash University; Rahman Daiyan, UNSW Sydney
It’s now technically possible to green many heavy industries. The challenge is doing it at scale.
|
|
Science + Technology
|
-
Celeste Rodriguez Louro, The University of Western Australia
Automated speech recognition is a powerful tool – but it comes with a host of assumptions.
-
Kenny Travouillon, Western Australian Museum; Curtin University; Helen Ryan, Western Australian Museum; Kailah Thorn, Western Australian Museum; Natalie Warburton, Murdoch University
An extinct koala species has been discovered in Western Australia. Climate change 28,000 years ago erased its habitat.
|
|
Books + Ideas
|
-
Bec Kavanagh, The University of Melbourne
What happened to the groundbreaking centre that ran Australia’s only national teen-voted awards for teen literature and hosted a lively online community?
-
Penni Russon, Monash University
What do we tell a young person asking why their favourite book has disappeared – or why it hasn’t? A children’s writer wrestles with how to handle Craig Silvey’s books.
|
|
|
|
|
Has Albanese played it too safe?
“The articles on Labor's achievements vs election promises and Albanese's refusal to countenance indexation of tax thresholds were interesting and timely. Looking at his career over his decades in politics, I have just one word for Anthony Albanese: gutless! Here is someone who cherishes personal power so much that he shafts any perceived threats to his position like giving Tanya Plibersek difficult and unpopular portfolios or hamstringing
Chalmers' efforts at tax reform. A Prime Minister who won a record number of seats at the last election but who is too timid to use his numbers to attempt any meaningful reforms, let alone set the nation up for a prosperous, secure future.”
Stuart Kennedy, Oatlands NSW 
Decision fatigue is real
“I felt Emma Beckett's article on decision fatigue and food choices in my bones. It gets even harder in a fully neurodivergent household (autism and ADD), not just juggling regular nutrition, but also sensory sensitivities to a variety of textures. All this with baseline difficulties with executive functioning and planning. Peak frustration was on Monday when, after realising the shops were closed for Labour Day and I couldn't get ingredients for Plan A, I figured out |
