What future for newspapers?

One of my third-year journalism students at the University of Canberra asked me this week what future would there be for him in journalism in the light of the announcement by Fairfax media that it would cut 550 jobs in Australia and New Zealand.

The answer is that career prospects in journalism remain fairly good. Everywhere you look you see people consuming media — either reading newspapers, listening to radio, watching television, or browsing the internet. Continue reading “What future for newspapers?”

Return to what sort of democracy in Fiji

It is all very well for the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his New Zealand counterpart Helen Clark to assert that the conduct of the interim Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is unacceptable.

It is all very well for them to call for a return to a parliamentary democracy. However, one must ask: What sort of Parliamentary democracy? Continue reading “Return to what sort of democracy in Fiji”

Labor can lose many votes without losing many seats

Beware of business people seeking a simpler and fairer tax system. Invariably, they mean a tax system in which they pay less tax. In short, a less fair tax system.

Tax systems are a bit like voting systems. Simplicity does not necessarily go hand in hand with fairness. Fairness often requires complexity. For example, a simple first-past-the-post, single-member electoral system rarely results in an accurate portrayal of the popular will. Continue reading “Labor can lose many votes without losing many seats”

Complexity not so bad in the tax system

Beware of business people seeking a simpler and fairer tax system. Invariably, they mean a tax system in which they pay less tax. In short, a less fair tax system.

Tax systems are a bit like voting systems. Simplicity does not necessarily go hand in hand with fairness. Fairness often requires complexity. For example, a simple first-past-the-post, single-member electoral system rarely results in an accurate portrayal of the popular will. Continue reading “Complexity not so bad in the tax system”

By-elections a waste history shows

Should we have by-elections? This week Mark Vaile formally resigned from Parliament creating a need for a by-election in his seat of Lyne.

The by-election will be held on the same day as that of the seat of Mayo vacated by Alexander Downer. They follow the by-election in June in Gippsland caused by the resignation of Peter McGauran. Continue reading “By-elections a waste history shows”