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Archived news for 2012 | Recent news
This mindless pursuit of scandal belongs to the past
One of the more peculiar literary artefacts of the pre-democratic world is the ''secret history''. These secret histories purported to expose sex,...
The state and its leading politicians are in something of an economic policy rut along with the rest of country
This year has represented something of an economic "annus horribilis" for South Australia. In August BHP Billiton spectacularly shelved its $30...
Videogame blame distracts from the real gun debate
Before Adam Lanza murdered 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School, he smashed the hard drive on his computer. That act may...
Heavy hand of regulators promises pain on power
In the week before Christmas, three events reiterated the increasing degree to which Australia's once market-driven electricity industry dances to...
Memo to government: having an opinion is not a crime
By now we ought to have learnt this lesson: don't let lawyers write law. At first glance, the Gillard government's proposed changes to federal...
Labor Treasurer's promise now surplus to requirements
Can you imagine if John F. Kennedy had announced that the US would send a man to the moon, and then leave him there? Bringing him home would be too...
2012: The year in political outrage
You can still access the Facebook page for the Channel 10 talk show The Circle. There's a disclaimer on it now - the show was cancelled in August,...
A solid stance for all on building code
The Victorian government is to be commended for enforcing its building industry code of conduct. The decision to ban Lend Lease from tendering for...
Government chips away at planning controls
House prices are off the boil. In Victoria they fell two per cent last year. Interest rates have been declining and compared to two years ago it...
Pull the plug on electricity shambles
This year thousands of pages in government reports have addressed electricity supply policies. Electricity is also at the eye of the carbon...