Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Secretary, Sally McManus’s book, On Fairness, was launched in Canberra by welfare advocate, Dr John Falzon, and Sally outlined the work and achievements of the ACTU and union movement, and acknowledged earlier generations of Australians in securing the employment and social programs enjoyed today. … Read more.
Category: Contemporary Canberra Page 7 of 8
Life in Canberra
Distinguished Canberra journalist, Paul Bongiorno, recently presented his views on democracy in Australia in a lecture entitled, Mediating democracy: journalism in the post truth age. This was part of the Forum Series: Whither Democracy, chaired by Emeritus Professor, John Warhurst AO, at Christians for an Ethical Society, Barton (www.ces.org.au). … Read more.
Located 80 km north west of Canberra, Wee Jasper (pop 100) boasts a variety of attractions, including camping and recreational reserves – perfect of course for adventurers and outdoor people wanting to explore nearby caves such as Careys Caves (which has seven chambers of crystal formation) – www.weejaspercaves.com/. Set among a mix of broad acre and grazing properties, Wee Jasper’s other attractions include heritage-listed sites such as the Wee Jasper Bridge over the Goodradigbee River. … Read more.
The National Gallery of Australia celebrated Canberra’s 2018 Reconciliation Day public holiday with various events. A panel discussion about Aboriginal art in Australia featured federal Shadow Minister for Human Services & Shadow Minister for Preventing Family Violence, the Hon Linda Burney; Dr Greg Lehman, research fellow from the University of Tasmania; and highly-respected local Indigenous woman, Matilda House and her son, Paul House. … Read more.
For many years, Australia has depended on America for defence, security and assistance with maintaining order in Asia. In recent years, the Australian-American relationship has changed for various reasons. Australia now has to look carefully at the challenges America faces in Asia and the risks and benefits for Australia of depending on America in the future. … Read more.
Though now based in Melbourne, Anna Snoekstra grew up in Canberra. Her recent psychological thriller, Only Daughter, is set in Canberra. Based largely on “Bec”, the book takes readers on a journey of intrigue and twists and turns, with a puzzle which only fits together at the very end. Chapters alternate between 2003 (when Rebecca Winter went missing after finishing her late shift at McDonald’s in Manuka) and events of 2014 when the fake Bec takes on the persona of the decade-missing young woman. … Read more.
Great news for Weston Creek! Beyond Q Bookshop and café with its wonderful collection of second-hand books including Penguin classics and rare editions, has moved to Weston (from Curtin). Located in Brierly Street’s Weston Arcade and tucked away behind a cleverly-disguised door, the bookshop offers a great range of fiction and non-fiction, its subjects ranging across many genres including art, biography, craft, environment, gardening, health, history, music, politics, philosophy and science. … Read more.
“Social research group McCrindle worked out that, on current trends, a school-leaver in 2014 would have 17 different employers and five completely different careers in their lifetime…this phenomenon is likely to speed up as jobs are replaced, displaced and augmented by technology”, say Jim Chalmers and Mike Quigley, quoting McCrindle from 18 June 2014, “Job Mobility in Australia”, The McCrindle Blog. … Read more.
Distinguished historian, Professor Jenny Hocking, will present tomorrow at Manning Clark House, on developments related to the 1975 dismissal of the Whitlam government, and discuss her research into the significance of the “Palace Letters”. As a researcher at the National Centre for Australian Studies, Monash University, and an inaugural Distinguished Whitlam Fellow with the Whitlam Institute, Western Sydney University, she has received many accolades and also written books on significant figures. … Read more.
Canberrans and others who’ve ever worked for parliamentarians will not be surprised at journalist Katharine Murphy’s recent article about the stresses and strains on politicians (and their staff) in modern-day politics.
Published in Meanjin, and based on exit interviews with former parliamentarians (Greg Combet, a highly-respected former trade union leader and Rudd and Gillard governments’ Cabinet Minister; Western Australian GP-turned Coalition politician with “a streak of independence”, Dr Mal Washer; and one-time senior Labor staff member, Mat Jose), the article gets to the nub of what being in modern politics entails. … Read more.