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daniel-smith

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Why Perth’s rare rain excites my 6yo to no end

I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone as excited at the prospect of rain, as my six-year-old was last week. 

Daniel Smith

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Fresh technology is needed to keep up

We’ve long debated the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on jobs. Will these continually advancing technologies destroy jobs, or will they lead to a whole range of new opportunities?

Daniel Smith

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Hyde Park’s 180 beloved trees evokes community grief

The start of works to remove 180 Hyde Park trees infested with the polyphagous shot-hole borer is an emotional experience for locals. 

Daniel Smith

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Sports aim for score of net zero

With the AFL season now well underway, I’m reminded of how much work Australian sporting codes must do to catch up to some of their international counterparts on climate change.

Daniel Smith

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Building Pride in trust

It was encouraging to see New South Wales Police officers maintain a presence in this weekend’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, even if it was out of uniform. 

Daniel Smith

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Albanese must learn from car crash

When Australia’s car manufacturing industry collapsed on the watch of the Abbott Government, we lost tens of thousands of skilled jobs and a strategic industry.

Daniel Smith

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Time to talk about adapting to worsening climate conditions

Suburban bushfires in spring, 45C and freak storms in summer — not to mention rising humidity up north, perpetual flooding over east, and slowly rising sea levels everywhere.

Daniel Smith

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Wealth inequality a bigger driver of distrust than the PM

But, growing income and wealth inequality in industrialised economies such as Australia over the past 50 years has been a far bigger driver of distrust in the system than broken promises. 

Daniel Smith

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Australia Day fix in February

Australia Day is broken. Broken, when the date is hurtful to many First Nations Australians.

Daniel Smith

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Daniel Smith CommentsPremium
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Is it time to extend shopping hours for big retailers?

When I worked in government in the noughties, daylight saving and trading hours were debated almost every January, as politicians and pundits took a break from more serious political programming.

Daniel Smith

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WA is unique in its path to net zero

One of the biggest conundrums we face in WA’s clean energy transition journey is the tension between global and local gas supply projections.

Daniel Smith

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Daniel Smith CommentsPremium
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Don’t be stupid, focus on cost-of-living to win over voters

After almost two years of rising interest rates and rents, as well as spiralling grocery prices, the central economic issue for many voters is cost of living.

Daniel Smith

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Interests go beyond profits

The idea that the interests of a company’s stakeholders are unrelated to those of its shareholders is as outdated as it is misguided.

Daniel Smith

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Supporting netball a genuine sign of support for equality

While female participation in soccer is on the rise, netball remains the highest participation female team support in Australia, most likely counting many of Australia’s best female athletes in its ranks.  

Daniel Smith

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Telethon is a tradition all West Aussies can be proud of

When I was a kid, staying up late and watching Telethon was an annual tradition, as was donating a few dollars and promising to double it if someone read it out on TV.

Daniel Smith

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Hard work that went into the Voice must find other pathways

The passion and hard work that so many people put into the Voice now needs to find other pathways to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians.

Daniel Smith

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Daniel Smith CommentsPremium
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Same old failures if we Vote No

I reflect on how I would have felt, waking up the day after the marriage equality plebiscite to an Australia that had voted no.

Daniel Smith

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We shouldn’t need nuclear to achieve our energy security

There are few more difficult topics for those of us on the left, than the role of nuclear energy in fighting climate change.

Daniel Smith

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Are the ‘shy’ Yes supporters being missed amongst the Nos

I’ve started wondering about the possible existence of shy Yes voters in the Voice referendum. And whether, in its growing excitement, the No campaign might miss them.

Daniel Smith

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On for young and old as millennials buck conservatism

The accepted wisdom in politics used to be that voters became more conservative as they aged because that was what happened with baby boomers, who dominated the electorate for a long time.

Daniel Smith

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Our energy war is far from over

Peter Dutton’s push to build nuclear reactors in transitioning coal communities like Collie will give Australians a clear choice at the next election.

Daniel Smith

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Daniel Smith CommentsPremium
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Fighting climate change: The minerals we need to be greener

There was mixed news for the critical minerals industry, and its ability to help us avoid the worst impacts of climate change, in International Energy Association data released last week.

Daniel Smith

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Daniel SmithCommentsPremium
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Time to raise GST even if many Australians are struggling

With the Federal Budget projected to return to a substantial deficit within two years, and most Australian States and Territories also in deficit, we may need to have a conversation about increasing the GST.

Daniel Smith

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‘How’ just as important as ‘why’ in sustainability

The decarbonisation of road transport is critical, but electric vehicle companies should expect to be marked down for poor labour standards in manufacturing or their mineral supply chains.

Mark Mallabone