• Editorial

We should seek progress when something demonstrably should be changed (discrimination on the basis of race, sexuality or gender, for example), and we should seek to conserve evidently beneficial aspects of life (human rights, liberty and the rule of law, for example).

• Editorial

The crucial question to ask when a military conflict is poised to end in victory is: what happens the morning after?

There is clearly a problem when the nation set to become the world's biggest exporter of gas has a gas shortage.

• COMMENT

There is getting the job done and getting the job right.

Such decisions are about future generations. They will benefit mightily from infrastructure of all kinds, and so should contribute to the cost.

How can anyone assess this use of scarce public funds? The government has a duty of full disclosure to the community.

• Editorial

The US-led coalition, which dumped its long-standing "strategic patience" policy earlier this year, appears to have few remaining options.

Our social, economic, political and judicial systems are underpinned by trust, and most people are honourable. But people do manipulate state-sponsored investment incentives, enriching themselves at the expense of those who end up having to pay more than their fair share.

The rapidly expanding urban fringes too often lack public transport, schools, health and community services.

What appears probable is handheld computers' role in our lives is crossing a frontier.

• COMMENT

It is an uncomfortable truth that an undercurrent of racism has run through some of the debate surrounding the Houli suspension.

• Editorial

Despite the theatrics, the principles and goals lawmakers of all hues share outweigh the things about which they disagree. There is much work to do. Concern about inequality is coming to dominate politics across the industrialised world.

• Editorial

Cardinal Pell has repeatedly and emphatically denied ever having committed any sexual crime.

• Editorial

This appalling incident is not isolated - there were more than 8600 reports of occupational violence in Victoria's public hospitals in the year to July 2016.

• Editorial

The data from the census is laden with political and public policy implications.

• Editorial

An investigation by Fairfax Media and the ABC's Four Corners into one of the biggest companies in the sector should spark concerns across the nation.

We have seen how taxes on tobacco have reduced health-related issues associated with smoking.

• COMMENT

Immigration Minister Peter Dutton reckons most Australians would consider the proposed changes "perfectly reasonable". We doubt that. Most Australians can readily spot - and hold in disdain - jingoism, hypocrisy and cant.

The Age welcomes the outbreak of moderation and progress. We have been arguing that the traditional divide between "left" and "right" has become meaningless, and is a barrier to sensible public policy debate.