Economy
Economy, Social Justice
The Divine Right Of Capital In Australia Today: Corporations, Community Interests, The Body Politic And The Natural Environment
There is a long and distinguished list of academic contributors to a large body of literature which addresses the question—what makes capitalist democracies work better/best/optimally? Some of the preconditions established in that literature are: that taxes/subsidies address externalities (1); that property rights are respected, contracts are well understood and cheaply, honestly and easily enforced; and that ‘stewards’ (for example, elected... Read More
Democracy, Economy
Reimagining The Future Of Corporate Governance In Australia
The events of the Financial Services (Banking) Royal Commission (FSRC) have brought the corporate governance practices of some of Australia’s largest public companies into plain view. The insights revealed have been shocking, and shown that directors have not listened to internal whistle-blowers exposing misconduct, not asked the hard questions internally to fulfil their directors’ duties, nor acted in public interest.... Read More
Economy, Social Justice
Property Rights, Corporate Personhood And Nature
This paper formed part of the Green Institute Report ‘Rebalancing Rights: Communities, Corporatations and Nature’. Property rights are a social construction, embodied in law and enforced by the coercive power of the state, represented by police, courts and prisons. This fact is so obvious that it ought to go without saying, but it is routinely denied by many on the... Read More
Economy, Environment, Social Justice
Our Power: The Latrobe Valley, Hazelwood, And Our Energy Future
The Latrobe Valley is home to three brown coal mines and four power stations which have provided Victoria with over 80 per cent of its power, every day, for over 90 years. The documentary Our Power traces the footsteps of the Latrobe Valley’s history, starting from the coal community’s birth in the 1920s to the establishment of the State Electricity... Read More
Democracy, Economy, Environment, Social Justice
Green Anti-Immigration Arguments Are A Cover For Right Wing Populism
With the backdrop of dramatic decrease in migration to Australia in 2018 to a 10 year low, the population debate has reared its ugly head. In recent months Dick Smith has run an advertising blitz with the title ‘overpopulation will destroy Australia’ that compares population growth to cancer and recently took stage at Dark + Dangerous Thoughts at Mona arguing... Read More
Economy, Environment, Social Justice
What Would A Fair Energy Transition Look Like?
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten announced last week that a federal Labor government would create a Just Transition Authority to overseee Australia’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. This echoes community calls for a “fast and fair” energy transition to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. But disruptive change is already here for Australia’s energy sector. 2018 has been... Read More
Economy, Social Justice
Post-Work: The Radical Idea Of A World Without Jobs
In this article republished from the Green European Journal, from their issue on employment transformation ‘Work on the Horizon’, Andy Beckett explores the radical notion of a world without jobs. [...]
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... Read MoreEconomy, Social Justice
Why Progressives Should Prioritise UBI Over A Job Guarantee
In 2018 there seems to be no hotter topic amongst progressives: should we have a Universal Basic Income (UBI) or a Job Guarantee? The answer is quite simple: both, obviously. There is nothing inherent in one that excludes the other and a world in which people unconditionally have their needs met alongside a clear path through which they can contribute... Read More
Economy, Social Justice
A Universal Job Guarantee: An End To The Neoliberal Employment Landscape?
At any given moment there are an extraordinary number of people looking to participate and contribute to our society in ways that the private job market ignores or excludes. In this article, Senior Campaigner for Economic Fairness at GetUp Edward Miller explores the merits of a Universal Job Guarantee for confronting the perils of the neoliberal employment landscape. [...]
Economy, Environment, Social Justice
The Environmental Impacts Of UBI And A Shorter Working Week
Continuing our series on UBI: In this essay, republished from the Green Institute’s ‘Can Less Work Be More Fair?’ discussion paper on Universal Basic Income and a shorter working week, Professor Greg Marston argues that a UBI and shorter working week could play an important role in creating the conditions for a sustainable and equitable ‘good life’. [...]
