In this issue:
Hands Up All the ‘Not-So-Empty’ Nesters;
Pay Equity in the Community Services Sector;
Is Politics Losing its Legitimacy?
Hands Up All the ‘Not-So-Empty’ Nesters;
Affordable housing was once a cherished feature of the Australian way of life. But it is no longer so. A first home is now out of reach for many young Australians, and escalating rents make saving for that home extremely difficult. In this article, Julie Ustinoff examines an often-overlooked consequence of our housing affordability malaise.
Pay Equity in the Community Services Sector
Kofi Annan said that “Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance.” In this article Jill Lang, from the Queensland Council of Social Services, articulates why pay equity is vital not only for the workers which it affects, but also for our society and its capacity to deliver services to its most vulnerable citizens.
Ignorance
There are many aspects to ignorance, a number of which reflect poorly on those possessing this quality. But ignorance can have its value too, even helping oil the social machine, as Peter Kuttner finds in his personal reflections on the topic.
Is Politics Losing its Legitimacy?
Federal politics in Australia continues to play itself out like a soap opera. The actors come and go, but the script and basic plot remain remarkably formulaic. With no end in sight to the tiring machinations of politicians, Martin Leet asks whether politics is losing its legitimacy.