Posts from the “Politics & policy” Category

Crux of Crean’s Creative Australia is to cut the cultural cringe

Posted on 13 March 2013

Today the Honourable Simon Crean MP, Minister for the Arts, released Australia’s first national cultural policy in almost 20 years. There’s plenty of commentary about it, much of which, like me, is excited and impressed by it’s vision and it’s genuine relevance. But what I’ve read so far seems to miss an important point about this policy, which has prompted me to add my 2 cents. At it’s crux, Crean’s Creative Australia cuts through arts policy wonk and social stigma alike revealing the truth about the arts that those of us in the sector have long known: that the arts is a dynamic and vibrant part of Australian social and economic endeavour. For fear of wonking myself, let me explain what I mean. The…

Categories: Creativity & content, Desktops & devices, Ideas & big thinking, Internetz & the social web, Money & economics, People & place, Politics & policy

Tagged: arts, arts policy, Australia Council for the Arts, Australia in the Asian Century (white paper), Hon Simon Crean MP, National Broadband Network, National Cultural Policy (Australia), National Curriculum (Australia), Office for the Arts (Australia)

Grindr mobile app to mobilise the gays globally

Posted on 25 February 2012

The much talked about mobile geolocation social network for same-sex interested men, Grindr has embarked on a new community project to provide information and (hopefully) activate some of their 3 million+ users to LGBTI community activism campaigns. Called Grindr for Equality, the project aims to better coordinate Grindr’s community efforts. Grindr cites their recent involvement in campaigns such as the the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” legislation, overturning of Proposition 8 and the passage of marriage equality in New York State as the impetus for the project.

Categories: Desktops & devices, Ideas & big thinking, Internetz & the social web, People & place, Politics & policy

Tagged: Grindr (app), Grindr for Equality, Joel Simkhai, Nearby Buddy Finder LLC, New York State, Proposition 8, Title 10 United States Code § 654

Queendland passes civil union bill

Posted on 30 November 2011

Queensland has been debating introducing civil unions for a few months now. Tonight the Legislative Assembly will debate and vote on the Queensland Labor proposed Civil Partnerships Bill. If it passes, the legislation will same-sex and heterosexual couples to formally register their relationships with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. A registered relationship under the Act (should it pass) will benefit from a amendments to other legislation that will address inconsistencies and prejudices against particularly same sex relationships. Some of the big ones the Act will amend including the Public Trustee Act 1978, the Succession Act 1981 and the Surrogacy Act 2010. While it’s not non-discriminatory marriage, it’s a step in the right direction. As Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser (State Member for Mount Coot-tha) said, ”What we’re doing here in Queensland is…

Categories: People & place, Politics & policy

Tagged: Andrew Fraser, anna bligh, Australian Families Association, Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch), BrisbaneTimes.com.au, Civil Partnerships Bill 2011 (Qld), conscience votes, Daniel Hurst, Jo Ann Miller, Liberal National Party of Queensland, non-discriminatory marriage, Peter Wellington, politics - Queensland, Public Trustee Act 1978 (Qld), Queensland District of Albert, Queensland District of Bundamba, Queensland District of Capalaba, Queensland District of Ferny Grove, Queensland District of Mount Coot-tha, Queensland District of Nicklin, Queensland District of South Brisbane, Queensland Member for Albert, Queensland Member for Bundamba, Queensland Member for Ferny Grove, Queensland Member for Mount Coot-tha, Queensland Member for Nicklin, Queensland Member for South Brisbane, same-sex marriage, same-sex rights, Succession Act 1981 (Qld), Surrogacy Act 2010 (Qld)