Society & Culture
The Point Weekend Quiz
How well have you kept up with the week's stories? Take the quiz and find out.
State governments warned against “overreaching” and rushing to legislate “easy solutions” in the wake of Bondi terror attack
The NSW Government is yet to address whether it will extend its temporary ban on public gatherings in designated areas, with police working on contingencies for mass rallies against Australia Day.
Senate inquiry told Labor's proposed gun laws “would have significantly reduced the chances” of the Bondi massacre occurring
Gun Control Australia president Tim Quinn has told a snap Senate inquiry he believes the Albanese government’s proposed gun control legislation “would have significantly reduced the chances” of the Bondi massacre occurring.
Why I withdrew from Adelaide Writers’ Week
Authoritarianism and its brutal brother fascism are rising all around us. They thrive on controlling, squashing and censoring ideas they do not like. I refuse to participate in that.
Engaging with people you disagree with is part of democracy. Silencing authors is not.
The Australia Institute’s decision to withdraw its involvement in, and sponsorship of, Adelaide Writers’ Week was easy to make but raises difficult questions. As a research-based think tank, we thrive in the cut and thrust of disagreement, and we regularly participate in events, debates, and conversations with people we disagree with.
Engaging with people you disagree with is part of democracy. Silencing authors is not.
The Australia Institute’s decision to withdraw its involvement in, and sponsorship of, Adelaide Writers’ Week was easy to make but raises difficult questions. As a research-based think tank, we thrive in the cut and thrust of disagreement, and we regularly participate in events, debates, and conversations with people we disagree with.
Five lessons for the world from Australia’s battle with tech giants
Big technology companies, including Facebook, Google and Elon Musk’s X, have proven difficult for national governments to control. The Internet has been treated as a “Wild West” beyond government authority.
It's time to rethink speeding fines
The current system is arbitrary, inconsistent and unfair - here's what we could be doing differently.
Australia’s oldest public library axes controversial restructure plan
The State Library of Victoria (SLV) conceded it had “created unintended concerns” with its proposal to cut 39 jobs and reduce services to focus on more “digital experiences”.
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.
