Temporary migration is a permanent thing

There is a debate to be had about 457 visas, writes Peter Mares, but it’s not the one we’ve been having

29 Mar 13 | Comments (6)

We know about the 457. What about the 485?

A different visa category could be the subject of future debates about temporary migration, writes Peter Mares

28 Mar 13 | Comments (0)

Can we afford to get back on the rails?

Australia’s largest cities still rely heavily on massive investments in rail before the second world war. With renewed interest in rail as a way of dealing with congestion, Peter Mares looks at what history can tell us about the value of reinvesting in railways

12 Dec 12 | Comments (1)

International students and the law of unintended consequences

The federal government’s new rules designed to increase student numbers could boost the number of migrants who are permanently temporary, writes Peter Mares

28 Sep 11 | Comments (4)

Lives on hold

Changes to Australia’s migration program have stranded tens of thousands of international graduates at the end of a queue that shows no sign of moving — and the immigration department has warned the issue could end up in court, writes Peter Mares

02 May 11 | Comments (13)

New South Wales: the verdict

Radio National’s The National Interest, presented by Inside Story contributor Peter Mares, looks at the implications of the 2011 New South Wales election result

27 Mar 11 | Comments (0)

A death in the rain

FROM THE ARCHIVE | This week Fijian fruit-picker Josefa Rauluni died in the Villawood detention centre. Peter Mares describes a similar case nearly ten years ago, and how the coroner’s inquest unfolded

24 Sep 10 | Comments (0)

Talking about our population

The election campaign showed how we don’t seem able to have a rational debate about population, writes Peter Mares

01 Sep 10 | Comments (0)

Capping and culling the migration queue

Legislation before parliament will give the immigration minister new power to “terminate” certain classes of visa application, reports Peter Mares

03 Jun 10 | Comments (24)

Hanging and clinging: two state elections

Peter Mares spoke to journalist Sue Neales and political scientist Haydon Manning about the likely shakedown in Tasmania and South Australia

22 Mar 10 | Comments (0)

From queue to pool: skilled migration gets a makeover

Peter Mares analyses the latest changes to Australia’s migration program

10 Feb 10 | Comments (4)

The fifth ripple: Australia’s place in the global refugee crisis

Without more resettlement places, interception in Indonesia is pointless, argues Peter Mares in this overview of recent trends in refugee movement

12 Nov 09 | Comments (4)

A blockage in the skilled migration pipeline

A dramatic rule change has left many would-be migrants in limbo. Peter Mares reports on the indefinite delays facing tens of thousands of applicants for permanent residency

03 Nov 09 | Comments (10)

The permanent shift to temporary migration

A serious debate about this fundamental shift in policy, and its implications, has barely begun, writes Peter Mares

17 Jun 09 | Comments (4)

The fifth wave

The human cost of turning back boats is too high, writes Peter Mares. So what are the alternatives?

21 Apr 09 | Comments (3)

Campaigning in turbulent times

Far North Queensland won’t decide Saturday’s state election, but it’s a barometer of the stresses brought on by the economic downturn, reports Peter Mares from Cairns

18 Mar 09 | Comments (0)

Gambling on the Productivity Commission

All the evidence is in, yet the government has ordered another inquiry into the impact of gambling, writes Peter Mares.

13 Mar 09 | Comments (1)

Solar policy trapped in the state shadowlands

All sides of politics agree that a German-style national feed-in tariff to encourage rooftop solar power makes sense. But Christine Milne’s bill to create the tariff is going nowhere. Peter Mares explains why

27 Nov 08 | Comments (8)