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In the aftermath of the second world war, Australia signed an agreement to accept 4,000 refugees from displaced persons camps in central Europe. More than 170,000 people followed in the next seven years.
Nearly 80 years later, we are on the cusp of resettling our millionth refugee.
As Daniel Ghezelbash and Jane McAdam write, this milestone should be a moment to celebrate Australia’s history of moral action on protecting those in need.
Yet it also comes at a time when the system set up to protect refugees is under immense strain and a vocal minority is calling for Australia to shut its borders.
As Ghezelbash and McAdam write, Australia’s postwar leaders understood that accepting refugees was more than a legal obligation and a boon to the economy – it was a reflection of our national character.
And they argue Australia can – and should – lead by example again.
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Justin Bergman
International Affairs Editor
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Daniel Ghezelbash, UNSW Sydney; Jane McAdam, UNSW Sydney
This is a moment to take pride in our history of moral national action – and demand more humane policies for those continuing to seek refuge here.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
As Liberals prepare for Wednesday’s party meeting to discuss climate policy, Sussan Ley might be wondering why she stood for leader in the first place.
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Robyn Eckersley, The University of Melbourne
In 2015, global leaders gathered in force to get the Paris Agreement done. A decade later, shifting geopolitics makes a very different landscape for climate talks.
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Jeannie Marie Paterson, The University of Melbourne
The consumer watchdog has warned retailers it will be on the lookout for a range of misleading sales tactics, from fake countdown clocks to hard-to-read fine print.
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Philippa Martyr, The University of Western Australia
Just because a therapy works in a hospital doesn’t mean in works in a wellness clinic, or is even safe.
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Michael David Stein, UNSW Sydney
Ancient crocs didn’t just hunt in water – some may have dropped out of trees to catch their prey.
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Peter Layton, Griffith University
Drones are the signature weapons of 21st century war – and they come in a lot of shapes and sizes.
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Michael Noetel, The University of Queensland
Two new books reveal the gap between the promises of AI companies and the reality. One exposes the industry’s questionable ethics. The other argues we’re racing to extinction.
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Jo Coghlan, University of New England
As AC/DC begin their 2025 tour, here’s how it all began 50 years ago.
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Politics + Society
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Adrian Beaumont, The University of Melbourne
The Coalition has also gained two points in the federal Resolve poll, although the picture isn’t as rosy for Sussan Ley’s net approval rating.
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Charli Sargent, CQUniversity Australia; Greg Roach, CQUniversity Australia
When it comes to gaining an edge on the competition, many athletes and coaches are trying to harness the power of sleep.
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Health + Medicine
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Janet Davies, Queensland University of Technology; Joy Lee, Monash University; Saeideh Hajighasemi, Queensland University of Technology
They share many symptoms, but here’s how to tell the difference.
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Business + Economy
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Elizabeth Hill, University of Sydney; Rae Cooper, University of Sydney; Suneha Seetahul, University of Sydney
The major sticking point is Australia’s highly segregated jobs market by gender.
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Rod McNaughton, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
With investor unease over AI stocks having just wiped a trillion dollars from markets, have we really learned the big lessons from 25 years ago?
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Education
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Alison Hutton, Western Sydney University
The Gold Coast and Lorne are still popular for schoolies. But some young people are travelling overseas to celebrate the end of school.
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Dominic O'Sullivan, Charles Sturt University
Taking away the duty of boards to “give effect” to te Tiriti o Waitangi undermines the expectation that schools should work for Māori as well as for anyone else.
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Science + Technology
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Michael J. I. Brown, Monash University
Phones can often take great photos, but why are photos of the Moon typically disappointing? The Moon itself and camera design are both part of the answer.
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Arts + Culture
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Carissa Lee, Swinburne University of Technology
Sammy J’s Fiasco gives a model for non-Indigenous artists making theatre about our collective histories by working alongside First Nations people.
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BBC edit
"Like a moth continually flying towards a lightbulb by mistaking it for the moon, I keep coming back to The Conversation seeking enlightenment only to keep getting burned by all the so-called ‘progressive’ bias and hostility to true ideological diversity. Your article on the BBC is typical elitist groupthink. 'Mistakes' and 'lapses' were not made – it was a malicious splicing of Trump’s words, designed to slander the Trump demon. It was misinformation, a manufactured lie, of the highest order."
Phil Shannon, SA
Remembering Gough
"I am 93 years of age and I remember Gough's dismissal as if it had happened yesterday. Margaret and Gough were friends of ours – we all lived in Cabramatta. It was a shock then, it still is. Both were highly educated and forward-looking people. Margaret and I (with another friend) started a classical music club – the Fairfield District Music Society. At first, we held concerts in our home, then it became quite large and we had to hire a hall. He would attend and also greet and welcome newcomers. He was there for everybody and everybody admired him. Never before and after has a Prime Minister been so welcomed, he was a people's man. We were nearly all of
the opinion that it was a dirty trick not only on him, but on us all. He would have been the best Prime Minister Australia ever had. Who will remember Malcolm Fraser in years to come? Nobody will forget Gough Whitlam."
Cecilia Hoppenjans
We'd love to hear from you. You can email us with your thoughts on our stories and each day we'll publish an edited selection.
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The Conversation AU/NZ
Melbourne Victoria, Australia
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Full Time
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University of Tasmania
Tasmania, Australia
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Part Time
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