Parental care vs. daycare Sir, Both sides of politics are badly mistaken in believing that mothers with young children should be in the paid workforce, while their children are raised by paid strangers in institutionalised child-care. Late last year, the Treasurer, Joe Hockey, asked the Productivity Commission (PC) to collect evidence here and overseas to show how institutionalised child-care, rather than home-care, would…

Treasurer Joe Hockey could cut his infrastructure budget by $50 billion, while establishing an Infrastructure Finance Corporation to put hundreds of billions into developing the nation’s infrastructure. The Treasurer’s heavy cuts in the recent federal Budget are aimed at reducing the budget deficit and overall government debt. It’s proving extremely unpopular, with the ALP well ahead of the government in polling. Invariably, deep…

  RICH IN YEARS: Finding Peace and Purpose in a Long Life by Johann Christoph Arnold (Elsmore, NSW: The Plough Publishing) Paperback: 182 pages ISBN: 9780874868005 Price: $17.95   Reviewed by Val Prendergast   At first glance this book looks like a light read; but don’t be deceived. It contains profound insights into life’s journey and provides surprises and delights along the way.…