Opinion Pieces

Minimising tax a rich man’s game

16 November 2009

Published in The Sydney Morning Herald

To put taxation on a fair foundation, the Henry review needs to ''level up'' the lowest tax rates faced by the well-off. Treasurer Wayne Swan will receive a... [ Read more ]

Rollout of Smart Meters sparks calls for consumer protections

9 November 2009

Published in IMPACT magazine

New, ‘smart' electricity meters are being rolled out across the nation, changing the way energy consumption is measured and charged. What will be the impact on low... [ Read more ]

Jobs growth a feature of new green economy

27 October 2009

Published in The Newcastle Herald

We face major climate change risks unless we move to a low-carbon economy. We can do something about the problem, locally and globally. The benefits of doing... [ Read more ]

Let’s not forget those still living in poverty as the economy picks up

15 October 2009

Published on National Times

As we breathe a sigh of relief at signs that the Australian economy appears to have dodged a bullet, we cannot forget the 2.2 million Australians who are still in the... [ Read more ]

Towards a National Human Rights Act ?

12 October 2009

Published in IMPACT magazine

Poverty, deprivation and homelessness are not only equity or social justice issues. They are human rights issues. A national consultation committee is looking at the... [ Read more ]

Sustaining and developing non-profit social services

12 October 2009

Published in IMPACT magazine

The economic downturn has seen escalating numbers of people turn to emergency relief services for assistance. With shrinking margins between the costs of delivering... [ Read more ]

Missing out : which income support recipients are most at risk of hardship?

6 July 2009

Published in IMPACT magazine

New research published by ACOSS finds that those on the lowest social security payments face the greatest hardship. The social security system is poorly designed to... [ Read more ]

When raising retirement ages, don’t start with the poorest

16 June 2009

Published on ABC Opinion

By raising the pension age and leaving the superannuation preservation age untouched, the Federal Government has started at the wrong end of the problem, writes Clare Martin... [ Read more ]