Polity

10/03/2019

In 2016, trade between Australia and ASEAN countries had reached over AU$100 billion; Australia had accumulated greater amounts by strengthening trade links compared to other allies of ASEAN, including Japan and the United States. The Australian government had therefore figured it was time to acknowledge the contribution of decades of co-operation with its neighbours.

Having celebrated its 50th year of existence, would ASEAN do well to have a new member? Moreover, would a membership in the ASEAN club be beneficial for Australia?

Von Bacani breaks down the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2TzSFv1

22/01/2019

In 2015, Peter Dutton exercised his ministerial discretion to grant tourist visas to two foreign au pairs, circumventing normal process.

Under current law, the Minister retains powers to intervene in visa cases if they are satisfied it is in the public interest to do so. Thus, Dutton defended his decision that he grant visas to the au pairs based on the merits of their case.

Since such powers are intended to be exercised in legitimate cases of public interest, which poses the question: should limits be imposed on the Minister of Home Affairs’ powers to intervene in visa matters to ensure transparency and accountability?

Quincy collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2U5Qwnh

05/01/2019

P**N CONNOISSEUR AND SELF-PROCLAIMED GENIUS, KANYE WEST recently put his expertise on po*******hy to use as the Pornhub award's first ever creative director, designing a set of d***o shaped trophies.

Po*******hy, it seems, has now become more popular and normalised than ever; something which is potentially concerning given that 88% of of po*******hy contains violence against females.

Thus, a thorny question presides: can po*******hy be good for women?

Gracie collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2RcofhR

18/12/2018

Google is considering the deployment of a 'Chinese Google' called Project Dragonfly that modifies its search engine to conform to Chinese censorship laws, removing certain search terms, and allowing for the Government to identify users. This has prompted mass outrage from some technologists, who regard internet giants such as Google and Facebook as having an ethical responsibility to safeguard social issues such as privacy and freedom of speech.

Google re-entering China: a betrayal of the principles of freedom of expression or a boon to Chinese internet users?

Richard collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2PM1JH8

11/12/2018

Privacy-focused DuckDuckGo finds Google personalizes search results even for logged out and incognito users

A recent study by Duckduckgo found that Google personalises your search results even for logged out and incognito users—illustrating the difficulty in escaping the online echo chamber in modern society.

You might well expect that if you perform a Google search while signed into your Google account that the results will be tailored according to what that company has learned about you over the years…

04/11/2018

Australia is a parliamentary democracy, meaning our MPs can replace the Prime Minister at their whim. In light of recent events, evidently, this power has been exercised extensively with Australia seeing 7 of its 30 Prime Minister's take office in the past 11 years.

Are the current powers to decide who is prime minister given to MPs misplaced in modern times?

O'Meara breaks it down here: https://goo.gl/YLxQwH

03/10/2018

Polity's cover photo

03/10/2018

Duterte's Drug War And The Human Cost Of Facebook's Rise In The Philippines

Facebook's utility as a tool for political warfare is growing, not only in first world countries

"We were seduced, we were lured, we were hooked, and then, when we became captive audiences, we were manipulated to see what other people — people with vested interests and evil motives of power and domination — wanted us to see."

02/10/2018

AN TAX ON OVERSEAS ONLINE SHOPPING IS COMING...

Meaning retailers like Amazon could be taxed by the Australian government on local GST, potentially pushing their prices higher.

Is the introduction of an online shopping tax for foreign retailers in the Australian interest?

Natasha collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2NgKHjd

27/09/2018

A SPACE FORCE IS COMING...

In a June 2018 statement that sounds too crazy to be true, President Donald J. Trump voiced his support for the Space Force to the U.S. National Space Council, with Vice President Mike Pence asking Congress to approve $8 billion in funding over five years for space security systems...

Is the establishment of a Space Force a good investment to preserve global stability, or a waste of money that could potentially lead to an arms race?

Edwina collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2OLHoSE

19/09/2018

In a multicultural society like Australia, racial enclaves exist in nearly every city, and are often promoted as examples of our ability to integrate a variety of cultures and people.

However, these concentrated areas of culture have often come under criticism in the past, with with Pauline Hanson famously alleging in her 1996 maiden speech that 'Asian migrants had their own culture and religion, did not assimilate into the Australian way of life and formed ghettoes'. More recently, in May 2018, NSW Labor Leader Luke Foley used the archaic term “white flight” to describe what he perceived as an exodus of Anglo-Saxon Australian families from certain, increasingly ethnically diverse suburbs in Sydney

Do racial enclaves promote multiculturalism?

Alan collates the arguments here https://bit.ly/2QHvVEP

14/09/2018

Recently, a documentary was aired on Channel Nine’s 60 minutes showing flocks of sheep exported to the Middle East being confined in oven-like storage spaces under high heat stress and food deprivation.

As such, there has been significant public interest in the treatment of Australian export livestock, with Federal Agricultural Minister David Littleproud expressing his shock and outrage, demanding a report investigating the issue, and mitigating actions to be taken by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. On the other hand, the Labor Opposition has declared its commitment to ending the live animal export trade in favour of transitioning Australian farmers to meat processing.

Are the animal welfare concerns of live exporting unacceptable, or remediable?

Sao Yang collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2p7QP3A

09/09/2018

IN 2013, CHINA LAUNCHED IT'S 'BELT AND ROAD' INITIATIVE, a plan that seeks to finance infrastructure projects across Asia to support trade and economic growth in the region.

However, some people are concerned that China is abusing it's economic strength to tie countries to debts that they cannot pay back.

The Belt and Road initiative: a belt of servitude or a road towards prosperity?

Richard collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2CwD8Vk

05/09/2018

Australia’s New Brutal Politics—Not New, and Not That Brutal

The Council on Foreign Relations provides an interesting analysis of Australia's political climate, and the effects of the 24 hour news cycle

As Australia welcomes Scott Morrison as its sixth prime minister since 2010, observers might be forgiven for thinking that the country has developed …

02/09/2018

IN 2017, THE ELIGIBILITY OF SEVERAL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WERE QUESTIONED.

Referred by some as a 'constitutional crisis', fifteen sitting politicians were deemed ineligible by the High Court of Australia—ruling that dual citizens are ineligible for election unless they have taken 'reasonable steps' to renounce the foreign citizenship before nomination.

Many say that the eligibility requirements for parliament should be amended to reflect the increasing diversity of Australia, with 33.3% of all Australians being born overseas.

Should the eligibility requirements for PARLIAMENT be relaxed to reflect Australia’s rising multiculturalism?

Alfred collates the arguments here https://bit.ly/2NbFhd8

30/08/2018

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION refers to the subsidisation of disadvantaged groups, particularly in relation to jobs, in order to negate inequity.

Recently, Harvard Law School has come under fire for its admission policies, which incorporate affirmative action. At Harvard, Asian-Americans made up merely 19% of admitted students, despite greater academic performance when compared to their peers. Economist Peter Arcidiacono found that male Asian-Americans with qualifications to satisfy a 25% chance of admission would have had a 36% chance if Caucasian, 77% chance if Hispanic, and 95% chance if African-American.

Is affirmative action effective in combatting structural inequality against marginalised groups?

Cyle collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2NumYNq

26/08/2018

WITH THE RECENT , MANY CLAIM DEMOCRACY IN AUSTRALIA IS BROKEN, with this being evidence that members of parliament are not respecting the wishes of the people.

Some say implementing 'direct democracy' will fix this.

WHAT IS 'DIRECT DEMOCRACY'?

'Direct democracy', as reflected by the name, is a form of democracy that seeks to give citizens the power to have a more direct role in the making of public decisions. It does this by allowing the public to make authoritative decisions on laws by having the public vote directly on legislation (as opposed to having your MP vote).

Is such a system the right fit for Australia?

Hugh breaks it down here: https://bit.ly/2NjpWUQ

19/08/2018

POLITY IS BACK.

SAFE ACCESS ZONES. In June 2018, the NSW Government passed a law introducing a 150-metre exclusion zone outside abortion clinics in NSW.

These “safe access zones” make it illegal to communicate, film or interfere with a woman accessing or leaving abortion facilities.

However, concerns have been raised regarding whether this law dangerously limits freedom of expression; a stance notably taken by Pru Goward, the former Federal Commissioner for S*x Discrimination.

Do safe access zones around abortion clinics sufficiently uphold civil and political rights?

Quincy breaks it down here: https://bit.ly/2BoZaJ7

21/07/2018

Challenging Truth and Trust: A Global Inventory of Organized Social Media Manipulation

A new report from University of Oxford found that manipulation of public opinion over social media platforms is growing at a large scale:

"Around the world, government agencies and political parties are exploiting social media platforms to spread junk news and disinformation, exercise censorship and control, and undermine trust in media, public institutions and science."

http://comprop.oii.ox.ac.uk/research/cybertroops2018/

The manipulation of public opinion over social media platforms has emerged as a critical threat to public life. Around the world, a range of government agencies and political parties are exploiting social media platforms to spread junk news and disinformation, exercise censorship and control, and un...

13/07/2018

So we haven't posted for a while...
..POLITY IS ON HIATUS UNTIL THE 10TH OF AUGUST.

MORE COOL CONTENT.

POLITY SCHOOLS.

A NEW PLATFORM.

Stay tuned

24/06/2018

THE A.I. REVOLUTION IS HERE.

Is that a good or a bad thing?

Many fear that A.I. and automation has the potential to bring about a new 'industrial revolution', obliterating most of our current jobs.

However, some are more bullish, claiming that whilst some jobs will be lost, A.I. will create new jobs as well as bring huge economic benefits to our society.

What are the arguments on each side?

Cyle collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2Kj1e5D

17/06/2018

WITH MOST UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FINISHING OFF THEIR EXAMS, ITS TIME TO PARTY.

Or is it?

In Sydney, lockout laws mandate that alcohol stops being served past 1:30 AM, with no patrons being accepted in venues past 3 AM, to the detriment of many night life venues.

Four years have passed since their original introduction: is Sydney better off since the introduction of lock out laws?

Natasha collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2JRKZMo

10/06/2018

THE PERSONAL DATA OF 87 MILLION FACEBOOK USERS WAS UNKNOWINGLY TAKEN BY Cambridge Analytica TO HELP THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

As a result, Facebook's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, was required to testify before congress, prompting discussion as to whether we should implement more user data protections.

Why is this such a big deal, and should you be concerned?

Lachlan collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2l0mIJp

04/06/2018

UNIVERSITY STUDENTS across Australia are currently preparing for end of semester exams, and many are using 'novel' techniques to get ahead.

So let's revisit an especially relevant problem to now, discussed in Polity's article on study drugs:

Marc collates the arguments here: http://bit.ly/2F0F6gK

FOR MOST AUSTRALIAN STUDENTS, UNIVERSITY STARTS NEXT WEEK... what better way to start off the new university year than a Polity article on the use of 'study drugs'?

Is the use of these drugs an act that 'games the system', or should their use be legitimised as a response to the increased workloads and expectations of students?

Marc collates the arguments here: http://bit.ly/2F0F6gK

27/05/2018

AUSTRALIA IS FAT...
..and a tax on junk food is oft cited by many as a solution to rising obesity levels.

Whilst solution seems pretty straightforward, would such an initiative actually work, or would it just be another tax on the poor?

Von collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2kuftcs

23/05/2018

Facebook May Be Creating a Less-Informed Electorate

A new survey analysis shows that the more time people spend reading and sharing news items on Facebook, the less politically knowledgeable they are. 😥

"As Facebook itself admitted earlier this year — 'social media can have negative ramifications for democracy.' Contributing to the decline of the republic is quite a price for the pleasure of sharing vacation photos with your friends." 💩

Polity is working towards bucking this trend! 😉

A new study finds the more people rely on their Facebook feed for news, the less politically knowledgeable they are.

20/05/2018

A MEGA-MERGER BETWEEN THREE MAJOR UNIONS will result in the creation of the second largest union in Australia, the CFMMEU.

This merger was criticised by some members of parliament as greatly increasing employee power to the detriment of employers and Australia.

Does this union merger concentrate power so as to unfairly balance employee interests, and what is the extent of power that unions should have?

Jennifer collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2Ivxo0K

13/05/2018

ONE OF THE MAJOR POLICY STANCES OF THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT IS TO LOWER TAX RATES FOR CORPORATIONS.

Why would they want to do that, and would these proposed cuts be beneficial for the Australian economy and for stagnant wage levels?

Hugh collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2wAajEq

06/05/2018

'THEY'RE TAKING OUR JOBS' (?)
With the heightened national coverage of decreasing living standards and stagnating wage growth, is this something we can blame on Australia's immigration intake? With the rise of populism internationally, many say yes.

What should Australia's level of immigration be?

May collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2riEpHF

29/04/2018

This March, Australia hosted an ASEAN summit for the first time. For Australia - a non-member - to host a summit for South East Asia’s preeminent multilateral organisation is significant, and it comes as the regional balance of power increasingly shifts in favour of China.

Should Australia leverage its relationship with ASEAN to counter growing Chinese influence in South-East Asia and the South Pacific?

Read more here: https://bit.ly/2HBS72w

24/04/2018

BuzzFeed

Taking information at face value can be dangerous.

As young people encounter more information online than ever before, how do we retain both critical thought and the required efficiency to navigate a rapidly changing world?

Which sources do you trust?
Share your thoughts below.

https://www.facebook.com/BuzzFeed/videos/10157675129905329/

You Won't Believe What Obama Says In This Video 😉

15/04/2018

Spotify has recently released an app that rebalances users' music playlists to reflect a 'better' gender parity. However, some people believe that gender politics should remain separate from music. Should it?

Cyle collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2EM8O4Y

12/04/2018

Why it’s as hard to escape an echo chamber as it is to flee a cult – C Thi Nguyen | Aeon Essays

"In epistemic bubbles, other voices are not heard; in echo chambers, other voices are actively undermined. The way to break an echo chamber is not to wave “the facts” in the faces of its members. It is to attack the echo chamber at its root and repair that broken trust."

First you don’t hear other views. Then you can’t trust them. Your personal information network entraps you just like a cult

05/04/2018

Recently, the media has been inundated with allegations of China wielding its power to influence Australia. Are such allegations fair, or are they borne out of xenophobia?

Lachlan collates the arguments here: https://bit.ly/2Ha44c3

01/04/2018

They say we landed on the moon, but how could that have happened if the earth is flat?

Did man land on the moon? Is the answer no?

See the arguments on both sides here: https://bit.ly/2IlU2UJ