Replacing the Movable Cultural Heritage Act and other political news and views

Final report for review of Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 released - From the report: Previous reviews have come up with long lists of recommended improvements and suggestions for further consultation but what all of these, and indeed any analysis of the Act will show, is that the problems of the Act are systematic. They cannot be dealt with by tinkering amendments. I have adopted the position that any attempt to undertake piecemeal amendment would be inefficient and that what is needed is a new model by which the Australian Government can deliver effective, cost-efficient and balanced protection for significant cultural material. Accordingly, I have chosen a different path from my predecessors—to create a model designed to replace the current scheme.

Australia Boasts That It Has Met Its Climate Goals, But There’s Reason To Be Skeptical

Studying the Heart of El Niño, Where Its Weather Begins

Further easing of El Niño - El Niño remains strong, but continues its gradual decline. Climate models suggest a return to neutral levels in the second quarter of 2016. ... Based on the 26 El Niño events since 1900, around 50% have been followed by a neutral year, and 40% have been followed by La Niña. Models suggest the neutral state is the most likely for the second half of 2016, followed by La Niñ, with a repeat El Niño assessed as very unlikely. Historically, the breakdown of strong El Niño events brings above average rainfall to some-but not all-parts of Australia in the first half of the year.

How Both Parties Lost the White Middle Class - LONG after the dust settles in Iowa — and New Hampshire, and even the 2016 campaign itself — one question will remain: Why, after decades of supporting the liberal and conservative establishments, did the white middle-class abandon them? Wherever Donald J. Trump and Bernie Sanders end up, their candidacies represent a major shift in American politics. Since World War II our political culture has been organized around the needs, fears and aspirations of white middle-class voters in ways that also satisfied the interests of the rich and powerful. That’s no longer true.

For voters, elite is a dirty word - Voter distrust towards the political class has become potent. It is potent in the United States, it is volatile in Europe and it is evident in Australia, where the electorate has dispatched ten major party leaders in just 12 years.

Customer Loyalty - How Mark Rubbo Killed Borders Books - US book giant Borders is history. And it's demise all started in Melbourne. The wave that killed the Australian business of US behemoth Borders Group Inc. took shape in the Australian summer of 2003 as new recruits stacked shelves, Blu-Tacked posters and talked about the imminent opening of the Carlton store. Borders management had high hopes for the new Lygon Street store and the recruits, still in festive mood from Christmas, had high hopes for the opening party. Less than 100 metres away on that January day, an independent bookseller was planning to kill Borders in Australia.