The last 12 months will be remembered for years to come. When reports of a strange viral outbreak in Wuhan, China, evolved suddenly into national border closures, widespread lockdowns, and severe shortages of toilet paper, our authors came together to share their expertise on the world’s biggest news story – the global COVID-19 pandemic, and gave a wide range of perspectives on the impacts of the massive event.
In the year since a pandemic was declared by the World Health Organization in March 2020, much has changed. From the Victorian lockdowns here in Australia and the emergence of a hyper-contagious strains of the virus in the United Kingdom and South Africa, to the urgent roll-out of vaccines across the world and to a United States presidential election with huge impact, Policy Forum has covered closely the policy action of the last year. But the world is itching to know: what comes next?
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s our first In Focus section of 2021, Policy Forum is rebooting our coronavirus pandemic coverage to meet the changing situation, and interrogating the question that should always be on a policymaker’s mind – where to go from here? As always, we hope you find the discussion valuable, and we invite you to join in the conversation.
Government and governance | Asia
As it continues to respond to COVID-19, China’s central policy-making must be adaptable for the local authorities who actually implement government plans, Adam Tyson, Hong Gao, and Guangxin Cheng write.
6 minute read
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Government and governance | Australia
Governance expert Mark Evans joins Mark Kenny this week at the Democracy Sausage hotplate to discuss achieving change in Australia’s policy and political landscape, plus Keir Starmer’s struggles as British opposition leader.
52 minute listen
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Economics and finance | Australia
On this special post-budget episode of Democracy Sausage, Mark Kenny speaks to former Federal Opposition Leader John Hewson and tax expert Miranda Stewart.
48 minutes listen
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Environment & energy | Australia
The disruption provided by the COVID-19 pandemic should be a unique moment of reflection for Australia, Jessica Rosien, Fiona Armstrong, and Arnagretta Hunter write.
6 minute read
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Government and governance | Australia
Australia can only achieve herd immunity from COVID-19 if it changes its vaccine strategy, Quentin Grafton, Zoë Hyde, Tom Kompas, and John Parslow write.
17 minute read
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Economics and finance | The World
New research shows that closing borders in the first wave of the pandemic in 2020 reduced COVID-19 infections and fatalities and supported economic growth, Quentin Grafton, Dan Gordon, and Stein Ivar Steinshamn write.
6 minute read
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The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people differently based on their sex, socio-economic status, and location, and in Indonesia, it has had unique effects on people based on their faith, Eva Nisa writes.
7 minute read
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Trade and industry | South Asia
Its government might think the worst of the pandemic’s impact has passed, but Bangladesh’s ready-made garment industry needs continued support before it can achieve a new normal, Shahidur Rahman writes.
6 minute read
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Economics and finance | Australia
Despite rising tension, both Australia and China are having success looking further afield for buyers and sellers of key resources, but their resilience faces some stumbling blocks, Xunpeng Shi writes.
5 minute read
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Economics and finance | Australia
On this episode of Democracy Sausage, eminent economist Ross Garnaut joins Mark Kenny to discuss the choices facing Australian policymakers in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.
53 minute listen
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