Indholdsfortegnelse for 96.1 Jan-Mar 2025 i AQ: Australian Quarterly

The subscription period is based on the calendar year: January to December – 4 issues per annum. Back copies will be forwarded. Subscription Rates Rates include GST. *GST does not apply on overseas subscriptions. Postage included in rate. Airmail used for overseas distribution. AQ Individual and schools subscription $28 AQ Individuals (Overseas) $38* Individual Digital Subscription $14.99 (through www.pocketmags.com.au) AIPS Membership includes AQ subscription $88 Organisations (Australia) $132 Organisations (Overseas – Asia & Oceania) $145* Organisations (Overseas – Other than Asia) $165* AIPS Membership Overseas includes AQ subscription $110* Australian Institute of Policy and Science Publisher of AO-Australian Quarterly The Australian Institute of Policy and Science is an independent not-for-profit organisation first established in 1932 to further informed public debate on political issues. Science, technology and innovation have an important…

Millions of kilometres of digital ink have been spilled on the recent US election; and a good amount on what this means for political culture and narrative-making in Australian politics. The Liberal party - and the parties to their right - are attempting to emulate Trump’s dark Pied-Piper effect, with imported outrage and divisive culture wars hoping to find fertile (disaffected) ground. In more terrestrial policy turns, the Labor government is utilising necessary political reform to try and lock out the teal/independent wave before it starts stealing their lunch as well. Yet Anthony Albanese’s political calculus in trying to prop up the two-party system fails to appreciate that the counter-balance to the resurgent Right is not the Labor party, who increasingly feel the need to sidle up to Liberal economic…

Tegan, a high school student with chronic pain, used a wheelchair for several months due to her condition. During this time, she encountered significant misunderstanding from her peers. In one instance, when she stood up from her wheelchair to grab something in class, her classmates accused her of faking her condition. This misunderstanding stemmed from a lack of knowledge about chronic pain and hidden disabilities. In her interview, Tegan emphasised the importance of communication in managing chronic pain. She encourages those challenged by pain to share their experiences with others, even if it feels embarrassing or difficult to explain. This openness can help combat the misunderstanding and ignorance surrounding chronic pain. Tegan’s experience also highlights the importance of listening directly to young patients. While her mother was deeply involved in…

AQ welcomes submissions of articles and manuscripts on contemporary economic, political, social and philosophical issues, especially where scientific insights have a bearing and where the issues impact on Australian and global public life. All contributions are unpaid. Manuscripts should be original and have not been submitted or published elsewhere, although in negotiation with the Editor, revised prior publications or presentations may be included. Submissions may be subject to peer review. Word length is between 1000 and 3000 words. Longer and shorter lengths may be considered. Articles should be written and argued clearly so they can be easily read by an informed, but non-specialist, readership. A short biographical note of up to 50 words should accompany the work. The Editor welcomes accompanying images. Authors of published articles are required to assign…

Imagine walking your dog. Cameras in the park have been equipped with an AI system that can scan your face and that is linked in with databases that identifies who you are, where you live, who you are associated with, and what you do for a living. How would you feel about that? This is not fantasy; already the beginnings of this are in place – and have been for years. From as early as November 2018 through to November 2021, the Bunnings hardware chain were trialling facial-recognition software in many of their stores – collecting shoppers’ sensitive biometric data without their consent. Yet it was only in November 2024 that the Privacy Commissioner ruled that the retail giant had breached the privacy of “likely hundreds of thousands” of customers.2…

Creating a Safer Social Media Landscape Through Informed Regulation Dr Jasmine Fardouly TPoY: New South Wales The Australian federal government has promised to ban social media for those under 16. Many conversations that have led to this decision seem fuelled by moral panic and fear. These fears are not baseless. Research suggests that there are aspects of social media that can cause harm, especially for those most vulnerable to mental health concerns. For example, a recent study found that the TikTok algorithm was significantly more likely to show harmful appearance and diet content to young people with an eating disorder than those without an eating disorder.1 Parents cannot access or control the content and interactions their teens are exposed to on many platforms. Nor can teens themselves control the content…

Professor, School of History, The Australian National University and Whitlam Institute within Western Sydney University There are many good reasons to welcome this life of Race Mathews. It is mainly written by his wife Iola, an accomplished journalist, author, feminist, unionist and recent memoirist,1 but with the first four chapters a moving account by Race himself on his early life. As the work of a spouse, Race Mathews: A Life in Politics has an intimacy that is impossible to achieve at a greater distance: it comes as no surprise to learn that one of the books Iola read for inspiration was Susan Crosland’s biography of her husband, the British author and politician Anthony Crosland.2 Iola Mathews’ book captures otherwise obscured aspects of personal, family and emotional life but it also…