The Goverment’s planned tax cuts will increase inequality, according to a new report released as part of an Australia21/The Australia Institute roundtable with leading thinkers. Are you also concerned about inequality and other public policy problems? Say ‘yes’ to smarter policy solutions by supporting Australia21.

Economic inequality in Australia is going from bad to worse, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Bright minds have been working to find smart solutions at a Roundtable discussion at Parliament House in Canberra hosted by Australia21, The Australia Institute and former Treasurer, Hon Wayne Swan MP.

Manuel Cardoso, the man who reformed Portugal’s drug policy, tells Australians that values including humanism, pragmatism and cooperation were are the heart of the legal change that put a stop to criminal convictions for personal use, reducing direct and indirect drug harms.

Australian politicians have again failed the community by refusing to confront the implications of climate change for Australia’s national security. The immediate threat to our country, our world and our very existence now needs to be met with visionary leadership and urgent action.

The Federal Budget is a reflection of the vision and values of the government of the day. So what does the 2018 Budget say about Australia’s current leadership and the direction it’s setting for our nation? Australia21 has unpacked the policy decisions and the messages they convey, as well as the post-Budget commentary. Now Chair, Paul Barratt, delivers our verdict.

Pill testing at the Groovin the Moo festival in Canberra was only a trial, it didn’t ever claim to be the definitive model for how drug testing should be conducted. Further trials are needed, to provide more quantitative and qualitative data for evaluating the effectiveness in terms of drug harm reduction.

The Greens want to legalise and regulate cannabis for Australians over the age of 18. Their policy announcement has set off alarm bells for many, especially those concerned about young people getting easy access to yet another dangerous drug. But possibly more notable than the objections is the seismic shift in the drug debate.

Why should the rest of us care about someone being punished for what everyone knows is a crime? Well here’s why: because of the collateral damage to families and the negative flow on effects across our communities. When the wheels fall off, we all end up paying.