I welcome wholeheartedly the today’s announcement by the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and Education Minister to abandon the $2,000 cap on tax deductions for self-education expenses announced by the previous government.

” It will lift one of the most serious threats to Australia’s productivity and competitiveness. This is a victory for common sense and is one of the smartest decisions the government could make for Australia’s economic future. Now students can proceed with their plans for investing in postgraduate and professional development education with certainty and without the prospect of an effective 30 – 54 per cent price hike”

This is a victory for common sense and is one of the smartest decisions the government could make for Australia’s economic future.

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions announced their endorsement of the “International Principles on the Application of Human Rights to Communications Surveillance” – text available here.
This could represent a watershed moment for libraries and archives as we come to terms with trends in digital service provision that have profound – and deeply troubling – implications for our users, our professional values, and our societies.

Hopefully IFLA’s principled stance on this will serve as encouragement for other individuals and professional organisations to endorse the Statement – and to take practical steps closer to home to advance its aims.