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As NZ’s Chris Hipkins pursues power, what can he learn from Keir Starmer’s downfall?

As NZ’s Chris Hipkins pursues power, what can he learn from Keir Starmer’s downfall?

The UK leader’s resignation speaks to the challenges facing centre-left parties as they struggle to hold together increasingly diverse voters.

latest 0

The Conversation

Grant Duncan

Grattan on Friday: Now’s the time to renovate multiculturalism, elevating ‘interculturalism’

Grattan on Friday: Now’s the time to renovate multiculturalism, elevating ‘interculturalism’

Amid the heated debate around multiculturalism there is a strong case for a reset of multicultural policy to make it more resilient in a changing...

yesterday 9

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Caps are coming for domestic uni places, but the government also wants to grow student numbers. Can this work?

Caps are coming for domestic uni places, but the government also wants to grow student numbers. Can this work?

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare has introduced a bill under which universities face new caps on their domestic student numbers.

yesterday 7

The Conversation

Andrew Norton

Was Venezuela struck by an earthquake ‘doublet’? Here’s what we know so far

Was Venezuela struck by an earthquake ‘doublet’? Here’s what we know so far

The two deadly earthquakes happened just 39 seconds apart, but were seismologically distinct.

yesterday 6

The Conversation

Mark Quigley

Bird flu is deadly for backyard chickens – and even cats. A vet expert explains

Bird flu is deadly for backyard chickens – and even cats. A vet expert explains

Domestic pet owners, particularly those with chicken flocks, should be on alert for signs of this highly infectious virus.

yesterday 4

The Conversation

Ricardo J. Soares Magalhaes

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Jenny McAllister on ‘confronting but necessary’ NDIS reforms

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Jenny McAllister on ‘confronting but necessary’ NDIS reforms

The NDIS minister joined the podcast to discuss the government’s reforms – and what the changes mean for 160,000 Australians .

yesterday 5

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Europe is battling a record‑breaking heatwave. What’s making it so severe?

Europe is battling a record‑breaking heatwave. What’s making it so severe?

A climate expert unpacks the potential causes and risks of extreme heat.

yesterday 3

The Conversation

Andrew B. Watkins

Copland Dance Episodes: Americana music, contemporary dance and the Australian Ballet

Copland Dance Episodes: Americana music, contemporary dance and the Australian Ballet

In Justin Peck’s Copland Dance Episodes, dancers of The Australian Ballet move through 22 episodes to music by legendary American composer Aaron...

yesterday 1

The Conversation

Yvette Grant

The final IS‑linked woman is returning to Australia. It’s the safest outcome for everyone

The final IS‑linked woman is returning to Australia. It’s the safest outcome for everyone

The government has granted the woman and her child a permit to come home, having previously tried to block their return. It will now be easier to...

yesterday 1

The Conversation

Erin Cooper-Douglas

Lucy Guerin’s greatest legacy is she made her contemporary dance company more than herself

Lucy Guerin’s greatest legacy is she made her contemporary dance company more than herself

Lucy Guerin will step down as artistic director of Lucy Guerin Inc, one of the most important and best-resourced contemporary dance companies in the...

yesterday 1

The Conversation

Andrew Fuhrmann

WA police are scanning faces in public – and the law is not ready for the consequences

WA police are scanning faces in public – and the law is not ready for the consequences

Western Australia’s police are now scanning faces in real time. The technology works – roughly. The laws to govern it do not yet exist.

yesterday 5

The Conversation

David Tuffley

Yes, the tax debate has been unedifying at times. But it shows reform working as it should in a democracy

Yes, the tax debate has been unedifying at times. But it shows reform working as it should in a democracy

Something went very right in Australian politics this week – and it’s worth pausing and reflecting on how and why that is.

yesterday 9

The Conversation

Chris Wallace

Can you take last‑minute sick leave or time off to watch the Socceroos? Here’s what the law says

Can you take last‑minute sick leave or time off to watch the Socceroos? Here’s what the law says

A workplace law expert explains what your rights are – and whether employers who suspect people of not being sick can ask for a medical certificate.

yesterday 1

The Conversation

Shae McCrystal

Why the Paraguay match will define the Socceroos’ World Cup

Why the Paraguay match will define the Socceroos’ World Cup

As Australia prepares to take on Paraguay, it’s clear a group-stage match rarely carries such decisive weight.

yesterday 1

The Conversation

Steve Georgakis

Teals Steggall and Spender launch new Community Strong Australia party

Teals Steggall and Spender launch new Community Strong Australia party

Two teals, no leader- Zali Steggall and Allegra Spender launch their new party.

yesterday 7

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

The government wants to increase home ownership. But life is tough for many new homeowners

The government wants to increase home ownership. But life is tough for many new homeowners

Australia has long romanticised home ownership. But with evidence linking mortgage stress to poor mental health, we can’t forget people once they...

yesterday 10

The Conversation

Rachel Ong Viforj

Fact‑checking is good journalistic practice. But it will do nothing to stop the rise of Pauline Hanson

Fact‑checking is good journalistic practice. But it will do nothing to stop the rise of Pauline Hanson

Post-truth politics means emotions trump facts. The major parties would be wise to remember this when trying to combat the rise of One Nation.

yesterday 9

The Conversation

Benjamin T. Jones

Generational conflict has been around forever – just ask the ancients

Generational conflict has been around forever – just ask the ancients

Among the Romans, fathers had complete legal control over their sons and daughters. This included the right to inflict capital punishment.

yesterday 10

The Conversation

Konstantine Panegyres

A ‘direct wave’ from colliding black holes reveals signature of a whirlpool in spacetime

A ‘direct wave’ from colliding black holes reveals signature of a whirlpool in spacetime

For the first time, scientists have gained information from the very surface of a newborn black hole.

yesterday 6

The Conversation

Neil Lu

What people with intersex traits want you to know

What people with intersex traits want you to know

People born with variations of sex characteristics have bodies that are a little different to social and medical expectations.

yesterday 8

The Conversation

Morgan Carpenter

Extreme heat is harming remote First Nations communities. It’s time we listen to them

Extreme heat is harming remote First Nations communities. It’s time we listen to them

Climate change is disproportionately affecting remote First Nations communities – as three experts explain.

yesterday 10

The Conversation

Manoj Bhatta

Scorching heatwaves, torrential rain – all in a matter of days. It’s not just bad luck

Scorching heatwaves, torrential rain – all in a matter of days. It’s not just bad luck

Australia’s weather extremes are increasingly arriving back-to-back in a ‘weather whiplash’.

yesterday 10

The Conversation

Juliana Neild

85% of kids are still using social media despite ban. But we need a new measure to judge its success

85% of kids are still using social media despite ban. But we need a new measure to judge its success

The full effects of the ban may not be clear for a decade.

yesterday 10

The Conversation

Samuel Cornell

We checked 2000 museum specimens and discovered a tiny new ‘ferocious’ Australian mammal

We checked 2000 museum specimens and discovered a tiny new ‘ferocious’ Australian mammal

Using sophisticated genetic technology and 100-year-old museum specimens, we uncovered a new planigale species.

yesterday 4

The Conversation

Andrew M. Baker

Will a peace deal between Iran and the US hold? Lessons from ancient Rome and Persia

Will a peace deal between Iran and the US hold? Lessons from ancient Rome and Persia

After dozens of wars between the two ancient empires of Rome and Persia, peace deals often failed to solve problems – and sometimes made the...

yesterday 10

The Conversation

Peter Edwell

How drug demand in New Zealand and Australia is driving calls for the death penalty in Fiji

How drug demand in New Zealand and Australia is driving calls for the death penalty in Fiji

Prison sentences for drug offences in Fiji sometimes surpass those for rape and murder and are out of line with penalties in Australia and New...

yesterday 9

The Conversation

Kya Raina Lal

In an exhibition tracing 1,500 years of art, Vishnu’s avatars offer tonic for our times

In an exhibition tracing 1,500 years of art, Vishnu’s avatars offer tonic for our times

Avatar: Forms of Vishnu at the Art Gallery of New South Wales presents 200 artworks spanning 1,500 years, from international and Australian...

yesterday 10

The Conversation

Louise Martin-Chew

Could psychedelic therapy have a place in end‑of‑life care? We asked doctors

Could psychedelic therapy have a place in end‑of‑life care? We asked doctors

Doctors working in palliative care see promise in emerging therapies involving psychedelic drugs, but say many questions still need to be addressed.

yesterday 5

The Conversation

David Menkes

ASIO chief reveals former Australian resident directed attack on Melbourne synagogue

ASIO chief reveals former Australian resident directed attack on Melbourne synagogue

The head of ASIO Mike Burgess has outlined Australia security situation in his annual threat assessment.

previous day 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

Bird flu has spread to two Australian states. Here’s how it could accelerate our extinction crisis

Bird flu has spread to two Australian states. Here’s how it could accelerate our extinction crisis

The arrival of the H5N1 strain may threaten our most vulnerable species.

previous day 40

The Conversation

Euan Ritchie

Underlying inflation is still too high, keeping another interest rate hike on the table

Underlying inflation is still too high, keeping another interest rate hike on the table

The latest figures show petrol prices are down – but nearly everything else is still rising.

previous day 10

The Conversation

Isaac Gross

Proposed tougher penalties for theft would punish mostly women – and harm their daughters

Proposed tougher penalties for theft would punish mostly women – and harm their daughters

A proposed law change would introduce a new category of low-value theft. Penalties would affect women more than men and put their daughters at higher...

previous day 1

The Conversation

Antje Deckert

‘Good teeth, you’re deadly inside and outside’: here’s what Indigenous people told us about oral health

‘Good teeth, you’re deadly inside and outside’: here’s what Indigenous people told us about oral health

Good oral health is more than having healthy teeth and gums. Indigenous people told researchers why it’s central to their wider health and wellbeing.

previous day 4

The Conversation

Ria Aiyar

Earth’s oldest crater really is over 3 billion years old, new study confirms

Earth’s oldest crater really is over 3 billion years old, new study confirms

The oldest known impact structure on Earth has been confirmed in outback Australia.

previous day 20

The Conversation

Chris Kirkland

Spending on child protection has almost doubled in a decade, so why isn’t it improving?

Spending on child protection has almost doubled in a decade, so why isn’t it improving?

New research shows despite increased government funding, Australia’s child protection system isn’t getting better outcomes. Here’s why.

previous day 10

The Conversation

Claudia Bull

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is treated with ‘nanobubbles’. What are they and how do they work?

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is treated with ‘nanobubbles’. What are they and how do they work?

Nanobubbles are invisible, mysteriously stable, a thousand times thinner than a human hair, and surprisingly versatile.

previous day 10

The Conversation

Vince Craig

Iran just outlasted the world’s most powerful military. What can Australia learn from its strategies?

Iran just outlasted the world’s most powerful military. What can Australia learn from its strategies?

Australia needs to consider how to adapt its military tactics and preparedness to meet potential future threats.

previous day 10

The Conversation

David Kilcullen

Unis are going back to in‑person exams. But some students are finding new ways to cheat

Unis are going back to in‑person exams. But some students are finding new ways to cheat

Students have always cheated in exams. But instead of handwritten notes, they might now use AI-enabled glasses.

previous day 10

The Conversation

Meena Jha

The US is leading the new space race – but other countries are close behind

The US is leading the new space race – but other countries are close behind

It can be easy to lose sight of the fact that the US isn’t the only major actor in space.

previous day 10

The Conversation

Melissa de Zwart

What are your favourite books that deserve to be better known? 7 literary experts share theirs

What are your favourite books that deserve to be better known? 7 literary experts share theirs

There is a particular pleasure in a new reading discovery, so we asked 7 literary experts to unearth some lost treasures for us.

previous day 10

The Conversation

James Ley

From the circus to the runway: how the ‘glam clown’ has seized the fashion zeitgeist

From the circus to the runway: how the ‘glam clown’ has seized the fashion zeitgeist

Clowns turned the body into spectacle. Spectacle is now integral to fashion.

previous day 5

The Conversation

Anna-Sophie Jürgens

Trump’s upgrade of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has become a disaster. Why is it causing so much outrage?

Trump’s upgrade of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has become a disaster. Why is it causing so much outrage?

The latest in the president’s long list of upgrades, renovations and new monuments has sent social media into a frenzy.

tuesday 10

The Conversation

Bruce Wolpe

The new Vegemite Kids has 50% less salt. No, that’s not ‘un‑Australian’

The new Vegemite Kids has 50% less salt. No, that’s not ‘un‑Australian’

Here’s what Vegemite Kids will mean for children’s total salt intake. Hint: not as much as you might think.

tuesday 8

The Conversation

Lauren Ball

Cheap, effective and dangerous: how Australian farmers came to depend on the toxic weedkiller paraquat

Cheap, effective and dangerous: how Australian farmers came to depend on the toxic weedkiller paraquat

Paraquat is banned in dozens of countries – but this cheap imported herbicide is everywhere in Australia.

tuesday 10

The Conversation

Sarah Rogers

View from The Hill: Longer NDIS inquiry is bad for the government, costing ‘a few hundred million dollars’

View from The Hill: Longer NDIS inquiry is bad for the government, costing ‘a few hundred million dollars’

The government had little choice but to agree to the extension, which will take several hundred million off its projected savings.

tuesday 10

The Conversation

Michelle Grattan

One Nation’s surge continues in polls as Andy Burnham set to become next UK PM

One Nation’s surge continues in polls as Andy Burnham set to become next UK PM

In polls taken partly after Pauline Hanson’s address at the National Press Club, her party’s vote has climbed further.

tuesday 10

The Conversation

Adrian Beaumont

Victoria claims to have stopped native logging. So why is it importing Tasmanian forests?

Victoria claims to have stopped native logging. So why is it importing Tasmanian forests?

There’s no economic or environmental case for native logging. Yet taxpayer money is still being used to support it.

tuesday 5

The Conversation

David Lindenmayer

Ten Australians are taking the government to the UN over fossil fuel exports. What is their case?

Ten Australians are taking the government to the UN over fossil fuel exports. What is their case?

This historic case could establish a legal link between human rights and fossil fuel exports.

tuesday 3

The Conversation

Maria Nawaz

What a strong El Niño could mean for Australian communities, jobs and food prices

What a strong El Niño could mean for Australian communities, jobs and food prices

Australia isn’t likely to face food shortages anytime soon. But hotter, drier weather could still take a toll on many local economies and communities.

tuesday 3

The Conversation

David A. Fleming-Muñoz

Spy agencies say AI can help combat AI cyber risks. But don’t forget the basics

Spy agencies say AI can help combat AI cyber risks. But don’t forget the basics

Using AI for cybersecurity without first investing in fundamentals is like deploying a robot guard dog to defend an unlocked door.

tuesday 10

The Conversation

Toby Murray