Opinions

Nina Gbor

Fixing the global plastic crisis requires an estimated $18.3 trillion to $158.4 trillion over the next two decades to transition away from plastic and overhaul waste management. However, doing nothing will cost significantly more—up to $281.8 trillion in environmental, economic, and human health damages.

Melissa Haswell

For years, Darwin residents have been concerned about toxic chemicals emitted by the city’s two gas export facilities. In fact, some locals are so worried about these airborne chemicals – particularly benzene – they recently formed a community group and launched a fundraiser to buy a regulation-grade mobile device for continuous monitoring.

Kasy Chambers

When John Howard introduced Australia's gun reforms after the Port Arthur massacre, he knew they would be controversial. He also knew they were necessary. Parliament now has another opportunity to show that kind of leadership. Nearly four in five Australians support a total ban on gambling advertising. Only one in three think the laws before Parliament go far enough.

Nina Gbor

Australia's soft plastics recycling industry now stands at a critical juncture. The growth in processing capacity and successful clearance of REDcycle stockpiles provide reasons for optimism. However, achieving a truly circular economy will require coordinated action from governments, manufacturers, retailers and consumers.

Esther Anatolitis

Having explicitly rejected any possible text and data mining exemption to copyright law, is the Australian government about to give away our most valuable cultural and natural assets?

Louise Morris

Next week, more than 700 delegates will fill Melbourne's Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) for the Carbon Capture APAC Summit. The region's fossil fuel industry will once again talk up carbon capture and storage (CCS) as the technology that lets us keep burning coal and gas, while still hitting our climate targets.

Ross McMullin

This is an edited extract from the updated edition of The Light on the Hill: An Updated History of the Australian Labor Party by Ross McMullin (Scribe), out from 30 June.

Gemma Killen

The gender pay gap starts early. Research suggests there are even differences in the amount of pocket money girls and boys receive from their parents. The gender gap in superannuation also starts young – girls under the age of 18 have, on average, barely more than half of the super that boys the same age have, despite being more likely to be engaged in paid work.