New York City joins at least seven US states that are requiring some form of salary transparency, including Colorado, Washington and Connecticut. The rules are part of a broader push to narrow the gender pay gap by also prohibiting companies in many jurisdictions from asking about compensation at previous employers or retaliating against workers who share their own pay information. New York City’s new law applies to employers with four or more workers. That amounts to about 1/3 of employers but roughly 90% of workers in the city, according to state Labor Department statistics.  https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-12/countdown-starts-for-nyc-businesses-required-to-post-salar

Politicians would have to declare political donations over $1000 in real time as part of a sweeping package of integrity measures Special Minister of State Don Farrell hopes to introduce by mid-2023.Labor also wants to introduce “truth in political advertising” laws. The suite of measures are in addition to Labor’s plans to create a federal integrity commission.The truth in political advertising would apply “across the board” and take in online and potentially social media, Farrell said.“Media is so diverse now that you’ve really got to look broader than just say a newspaper ad .... he said.https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-to-introduce-real-time-disclosures-and-

It is concerning to see the push by the PM to have a referendum on the Indigenous Voice before broad and inclusive community deliberation has been completed.   There is pressure to act quickly by some groups in the community; this risks either a failed referendum or people becoming frustrated when the implementation consequences become apparent.   Many wise indigenous voices, including Tom Calma, Marcia Langton, Pat Turner and Linda Burney, have endorsed the need “to build consensus” before moving to Constitutional Recognition.   Our community comprises many “voices” from many backgrounds – and they all deserve to be listened to.

Our newly minted Prime Minister and Treasurer present themselves as willing to engage and listen to the people of Australia and govern on their behalf.   Other than a series of platitudes, high-level interactions, and talk of summits with the great and good, no serious effort is being made for effective engagement with the electorate.   There are many issues our government needs to make the big moves on, e.g. determining optimal government service levels, sustainable and equitable revenue-raising, affordable housing, indigenous recognition and engagement, productivity and gain sharing.   Effective engagement means transparent deliberative processes with broad community involvement!

Great to celebrate people who have pushed boundaries to get a story told. Their achievements tell how individuals can make a difference to the way a story is reported and shared.The Breaking the News Exhibition at the British Library in London celebrates news breakers such as Carole Cadwalladr who broke the Cambridge Analytica story in 2018. Her compelling TedTalks address https://www.ted.com/talks/carole_cadwalladr_facebook_s_role_in_brexit_and_the_threat_to_democracy?

As frustrating as it may be, our politics is seeing a better-quality contest of ideas:   “The most reliable cure for confirmation bias is interaction with people who don’t share your beliefs. They confront you with counterevidence and counterargument. John Stuart Mill said, “He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that,” and he urged us to seek out conflicting views “from persons who actually believe them.” People who think differently and are willing to speak up if they disagree with you make you smarter, almost as if they are extensions of your own brain.”