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In the wake of the Bondi terror attack, the public and politicians alike have been reaching for ways to combat antisemitism to prevent such tragedies happening again.
Under pressure to act, many have sought to remind the government of antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal’s plan to tackle the issue. It was released in July to a mixed reception, and the government is yet to formally respond.
But as extremist violence expert Matteo Vergani explains, while the report has some good ideas policymakers could take up, other recommendations are less tenable, and some crucial questions are left unanswered.
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Erin Cooper-Douglas
Public Policy Editor
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Matteo Vergani, Deakin University
Following the Bondi terror attack, many are pointing to Jillian Segal’s plan for solutions. But it doesn’t distinguish criticism of Israel from antisemitism.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The response to the massacre has become deeply partisan, with Frydenberg calling on Albanese to accept ‘personal responsibility’ for the deaths.
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Stephen Bartos, University of Canberra; John Hawkins, University of Canberra
The drivers of the improvement are largely outside the government’s control. Meanwhile, total debt is projected to exceed $1 trillion for the first time by mid-2027.
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Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The treasurer says the government needs to do more on several fronts: from fighting antisemitism after Sunday’s deadly attack, to cracking down on illegal tobacco.
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Jonathan Karnon, Flinders University; Charmaine Gray, Flinders University
Urgent Care Clinics are one of three options for people to get care without going to a hospital emergency department.
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Andrew J. Martin, UNSW Sydney
With the benefit of a bit more free time, some students might be wondering if they made the right decision when they chose their courses.
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Rawan Nimri, Griffith University; Liz Simmons, Griffith University; Salman Majeed, University of Technology Sydney
Hotels talk a lot about sustainability, but often it’s no more than a marketing ploy.
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James Ley, The Conversation
Recent studies have shown declining levels of trust in democratic systems. We asked experts to consider democracy’s strengths and weaknesses.
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Hinze Hogendoorn, Queensland University of Technology
Our brains don’t actually perceive time – they infer it.
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Sarah Bourke, The University of Western Australia; Bradley J. Moggridge, University of Technology Sydney; Clint Hansen, Monash University; Margaret Shanafield, Flinders University
For too long, Indigenous perspectives have not been heard in groundwater science. We must work together to protect Australia’s precious groundwater.
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Politics + Society
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Anna Marie Brennan, University of Waikato
An independent inquiry would go beyond operational misconduct to examine police culture and assess compliance with New Zealand’s international obligations.
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Ian Kemish, The University of Queensland; Jasmina Joldić, Griffith University
The Dayton Accords were not perfect. But they stopped the Bosnian war, enabled accountability for atrocities, and offered millions the chance to rebuild their lives.
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Health + Medicine
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Chelsea Arnold, Monash University; Kathleen de Boer, Swinburne University of Technology; Toni Pikoos, Swinburne University of Technology
Witnessing people being seriously injured or dying can be traumatic, even if you didn’t know them.
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Business + Economy
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Sanjoy Paul, University of Technology Sydney; George Tian, University of Technology Sydney
The ban marks a departure from Australia’s traditional approach of preserving competitive processes rather than regulating prices directly.
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Education
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Vanessa Cobham, The University of Queensland
When your child asks you a question, try to be honest, even if the answer is hard to give.
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Environment + Energy
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Tony Wood, Grattan Institute
If Australia hits 82% renewables by the end of the decade, wholesale power should be a third cheaper.
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Science + Technology
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Rikke Louise Bundgaard-Nielsen, The University of Melbourne
Not all words are created equal – and those that sound more surprising are more likely to grab our attention and stick in our memory.
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Arts + Culture
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Iain Davidson, University of New England; Avelina Tarrago, Indigenous Knowledge; Isabel Tarrago, Indigenous Knowledge
Rock art images show Songlines reached from Murujuga beside the Indian Ocean to the eastern Simpson Desert, 2,300 kilometers away.
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Books + Ideas
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Bec Kavanagh, The University of Melbourne
Social media communities on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube have encouraged teens to read for fun. Now, Australian teens are banned from them until they turn 16.
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The right to protest
"Michelle Grattan writes: "The university encampments were another matter. Their presence on campuses was intimidating for Jewish students and staff." I am very concerned by this characterisation of inherently peaceful demonstrations which had nothing to do with Judaism or Jewish people and everything to do with the foreign state of Israel committing atrocities and war crimes against civilians. The conflation of antisemitism with protesting against war crimes and genocide is illogical and harmful. The characterisation of peaceful and legitimate civil disobedience and protest - at universities with long histories of both - as "intimidating" has a chilling
effect on public discourse and the ability of students to demonstrate."
Avalon Anskey
No mention of racism against First Nations
“Sadly all the valid talk of antisemitism fails to mention the foundational racism in this country against First Nations peoples. I'm hearing pleas for inclusive "multicultural" Australia, yet nothing about the mother of all injustices.”
Jane Lewis
Gun crackdown
"Why are we NOT talking about a gun amnesty? This was very successful in getting guns off the streets after Port Arthur."
Rex Walsh
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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Charles Darwin University
Alice Springs Northern Territory, Australia
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Full Time
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