Geoff Lacey. In 2009, a network of local activists in Spain put forward a proposal through a newspaper to establish a cooperative. In May 2010, they came together and founded the Catalan Integral Cooperative (CIC). This has turned out to be a major new development in the world cooperative movement. According to its website, the […]
Warwick Smith. University of Melbourne. For the last four years or so average wages in Australia have barely kept pace with inflation, meaning no real pay rises. And all the while, the government has been betting on the market to improve things. Treasurer Scott Morrison stated: As the labour market tightens, that’s obviously going to […]
Peter Whiting. Following SPC’s AGM on 5 December, Professor Paul Smyth addressed members of Social Policy Connections on the topic in the title above. His basic assertion was that the neoliberal framework which has underpinned much of Australia’s economic and social policy for the last thirty years has run its course, and we need to […]
Bill Frilay. If ever there were an industry at an inflexion point, it is our electricity supply industry. In most states, supply has long come from black or brown coal used to fuel large generators in the coal fields by state-owned monopoly enterprises. We now have major changes and challenges: privatisation of the industry in […]
Bruce Duncan Despite his immense popularity among most Catholics and many others, not just Christians, Pope Francis is meeting increasing opposition and outspoken criticism, even from some cardinals and bishops, as well as from some prominent academics and writers. Contention centres on his views on the pastoral implications of moral theology on divorce and remarriage, […]
A Response to Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement Everyone’s Business: developing an Inclusive and Sustainable Economy (2017-18) Kristy was a mother of four small children who ended up in high-rise public housing after fleeing her abusive partner. The micro-finance scheme operated by the welfare organisation near her block of flats assisted her in a dignified […]
Michael West 25 September 2017 “The biggest failure of public administration since the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1900.” Australian Tax Office insider. “The result of having the wrong system where taxes are too high and a labour market which is over-regulated.” Liberal Party insider. We are talking about the broad, state-sanctioned, backdoor deregulation of […]
Tony French. Leading Singapore-based CEO of Consulus consulting firm, Lawrence Chong spoke at the 23 August SPC forum in Melbourne on business practices promoted by the Economy of Communion, a network of over 800 companies worldwide linking companies with community needs. The event was jointly sponsored by the Focolare Movement in Melbourne. SPC member and Melbourne […]
Peter Saunders UNSW It’s long been accepted that the level of Newstart Allowance for the un-employed is too low. The Henry Tax Review proposed an increase of “about $50 a week” in the payment for single people to restore parity with the couple rate. Several community organisations, including the Australian Council of Social Service, have called […]
Leah Ruppanner University of Melbourne First published in The Conversation 2 August 2017 Australians want more children than they actually have, according to newly released data collected as part of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. Analysing data over 15 years, the study reports that by age 40, Australian men and women desire 1.5 […]
