AQ: Australian Quarterly

For over 90 years AQ: Australian Quarterly has been packing its pages with the debates that have shaped Australia and the world, tackling the big topics in science, politics and society. Grounded in evidence, yet written in a style accessible to everyone, AQ is unique in Australia’s publishing landscape, pushing back against the trends of subjective truth and media spin. If it matters to Australia then it matters to AQ.

How to subscribe • Subscribe and pay online at www.aips.net.au/aq-magazine/subscribe

A WORD

AQ: Australian Quarterly

ULURU STATEMENT FROM THE HEART

The Voice to Parliament and the Silent Majority • The Albanese government’s referendum on the Voice to Parliament was a gamble against the odds of history. Only eight of the previous 44 referendum questions had been passed. None had succeeded where there was a split between the major parties, and it was always likely Opposition leader Peter Dutton would make a fight of the issue. For Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, on many fronts a cautious leader, this was a major roll of the political dice. And for First Nations people too, the referendum was yet another test of their faith in the ability of Australia’s democratic system to right historic wrongs.

Failing Democracy The Voice Referendum Shows a Media Inquiry is Needed • During Australia’s historic referendum to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, the media collectively failed to ensure voters were presented with factual, useful content with which to make an informed decision. A healthy democracy relies on a media landscape that platforms debates underpinned by truthful information. Debates of course involve disagreement, but that disagreement should exist within a shared reality, fairly, and reliably presented by all types of media. Without truth, reasonable and informative debate is impossible.

The last great opportunity? Penetrating the politics of whistleblower protection • Whistleblowing often works as a backstop against corruption and mismanagement in today’s society. But it should really be seen as the ‘frontstop’ for honesty, integrity, and accountability – not a ‘nuclear option’, risking the careers and wellbeing of those strong enough to come forward.

Treating People, not just a Virus Cure, Community, & Collaboration for Hep B • Every day, I turn up to work focused on developing a cure for hepatitis B and preventing the liver cancer it causes. Why? It is not because hep B is the most common bloodborne infection in the world, having infected 2 billion people (though it is). It is not because ~300 million people1 will have this incurable disease for the rest of their lives (though they will). It is not because every minute someone dies from liver failure or liver cancer caused by hep B (though they do). It is because I have seen the impacts of the disease on people. Bread-winners diagnosed with end-stage liver cancer, the guilt of mothers having unknowingly passed the infection to their children, the disappointments of losing a dream job due to visa restrictions against those with hepatitis B. In fact, I live through it.

Burning Down the House Greedflation and the RBA • The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has failed, and mortgage holders are paying the price. The current cost of living crisis is being driven by prices increasing faster than wages. This means for millions of people the amount of stuff they can buy with their wages is going down. The biggest pressure point has been housing. But the RBA has been a big cause of that.

Tall Poppy Awards 2023 Winners

REFERENCES