• Artificial Intelligence

    Welcome to your friendly local chatbot


    Open Forum |  March 29, 2024


    QUT researchers have homed in on AI-powered chatbots in the local government sector to look at their benefits and risks, what they are used for and why, and how users view them.


  • Transport

    Car wars


    Open Forum |  March 29, 2024


    Medical pressure group Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) have called for the cross bench to reject the watered down and delayed fuel efficiency standard proposed by the Federal Government, and urged it to protect the health of Australians by requiring tougher vehicle fleet standards.


  • Energy

    The hidden costs of coal mines’ unquenchable thirst


    Open Forum |  March 29, 2024


    Investors and shareholders in Australian coal mining could feel the pinch as water-related risks increase amid worsening climate change impacts, tighter regulations and growing community opposition.


Latest Story

  • Preventing the next pandemic

    Open Forum     |      March 28, 2024

    Could protecting one group of people from disease, and exposing another to it, be the best way to prevent as many deaths as possible and reduce the impact of a future pandemic?

  • Among the narcissus

    Marguerite Johnson     |      March 28, 2024

    The vain, self obsessed Narcissus is among the best-known figures from Greek mythology, and his story and fate have continued relevance today in an age of social media and self-obsession.

  • Conspiracy thinking

    Darel Cookson     |      March 28, 2024

    Conspiracy theories are often assumed to appeal to people of limited education, but Intelligence doesn’t make you immune, it’s all a question of your thinking style.

  • Too busy to play?

    Elise Waghorn     |      March 27, 2024

    Some Australian children suffer from neglect at home, while others are scheduled with so many extra-curricular activities they barely have time to play, so what’s the right balance for your child – and your finances?

  • The underfunding of Australian diplomacy

    John Langmore     |      March 27, 2024

    Spending on Australian diplomacy has reached new lows, meaning important events, meetings, and committees are being missed or attended by interns, and Australians are still waiting for the Albanese government to do something about it.

  • Seize the decade

    Open Forum     |      March 27, 2024

    Hot on the heels of the hottest year on record, a report outlines a clear pathway for every sector of the economy to cut climate pollution so Australia can prosper as the world embraces clean energy like solar and wind.

  • The frequency of catastrophes – why accurate language matters

    Bernie O'Kane     |      March 26, 2024

    The media’s misuse of the term ‘hundred year event’ gives the public a misleading impression of the true likelihood of major floods and other disasters.

  • Hipster heaven

    Amelia Leavesley     |      March 26, 2024

    Melbourne, Australia – or at least one of our streets – has topped yet another global ranking, but what does it mean to be officially ‘cool’ and who decides?

  • The fate of Russia’s navy does not invalidate ours

    Richard Dunley     |      March 26, 2024

    Ukraine’s sinking of several Russian warships is an impressive achievement, but is part of a long tradition of asymmetric naval warfare and does not render surface combatants obsolete.

  • Saving a third of the world

    Justine Bell-James     |      March 25, 2024

    Australia has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to halt and reverse biodiversity loss through ambitious law and policy reform to restore 30% of the land to its natural condition.

  • Understanding Europe’s approach to AI

    Margrethe Vestager     |      March 25, 2024

    The European Union’s new AI legislation is a careful balancing act between power and responsibility, innovation and trust, and freedom and safety.

  • Land of the unexpected

    James Chin     |      March 24, 2024

    Violence has escalated in Papua New Guinea over the last few months and Prime Minister James Marape’s hold on power looks tenuous.