Explainers
EXPLAINER
What are the proposed gun control reforms and how did we get here?
The Albanese Government’s omnibus ‘Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill’ includes the most significant reforms to Australia’s gun control laws since 1996.
EXPLAINER
Local governments in Australia – how they work and the inquiry into their future
Collectively, local government is responsible for about one-third of all Australia’s public infrastructure assets. But how do they work? How do they raise money? And what is their future?
EXPLAINER
The public pool versus the real estate developer
The longer days of summer offer desk jockeys like me a seasonal opportunity for direct sunlight. After work, I like to go swimming. But my local pool, like too many others across Australia, has fallen into a dire state of disrepair.
EXPLAINER
What you need to know about Trump administration's abduction of Nicolás Maduro
As is always the case with Trump, it’s hard to separate the signal from the noise. Here are the basics.
EXPLAINER
Decommissioning oil and gas: The fossil fuel industry’s gift that keeps on taking
Taxpayers wear a significant share of the cost of cleaning up old mines
EXPLAINER
It's time to rethink speeding fines
The current system is arbitrary, inconsistent and unfair - here's what we could be doing differently.
EXPLAINER
How little the fossil fuel industry gives to Australia
As Christmas is the season of giving, it is perhaps an opportune time to check how much – or how little – the fossil fuel industry actually contributes to the Australian economy and government revenues that fund essential public, community and welfare services.
EXPLAINER
As holiday spending increases, so too does waste
In 2024, The Australia Institute found that Australia’s are likely to buy over $1 billion worth of unwanted gifts, much of which is likely to end up in landfill. There is no reason to think this year will be any different.
EXPLAINER
Coronary heart disease is no longer Australia's leading cause of death
In 1968, coronary heart disease caused close to half of all premature deaths in Australia among both men and women under 70 years. But this year, for the first time, coronary heart disease is not the leading cause of death in the country.
EXPLAINER
Australia’s ‘season of generosity and kindness’ doesn’t extend to kids in poverty
How can Australia solve the issue of child poverty?
