Peak Sinophobia in Australia?
Sinophobia in Australia, promoted over recent years by naïve MPs, opportunistic academics and jejune journalists, has now entered its neo-McCarthyist phase.... Continue reading »
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Cracks form a year out from South Australian election
One year out from the next South Australian state election and Steven Marshall’s Liberal government is starting to lose its mildly progressive safe covid manager gloss as old and new scandals and blunders start to bite.... Continue reading »
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If Australia needs nukes, who doesn’t?
Sensible people are making the case for a nuclear-armed Australia. Given Australia’s other problems, the ruinous cost, and the dangers of proliferation, this is the last thing we should be considering. ... Continue reading »
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Prince Phillip: royalty remains central to Australian identity
With the death of Prince Phillip on Friday the reaction in the Australian media has been immediate and overwhelming. Stories about his humorous, and sometimes offensive, statements have been repeated ad nauseum and the extent of his service to the broader community in the Commonwealth has been lauded. This saturation coverage reinforces how powerful the... Continue reading »
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Terry Moran and Travers McLeod. The capability of the Australian Public Service
The Centre for Policy Development (CPD) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee to assist its inquiry into the current capability of the Australian Public Service (APS). Helping to nurture and grow public service capability to support a more effective government has been one of CPD’s top... Continue reading »
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Is Ben Roberts-Smith the Biggest Anzac Story since Gallipoli?
When Brendan (“Biggles”) Nelson, AWM Director at the time, heard about the early allegations againt Robert-Smith and other soldiers, he fumed: “Where is the national interest in tearing down our heroes?” It’s my very strong view that the alleged controversies involving special forces, unless involving the most egregious breaches of the laws of armed combat,... Continue reading »
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Morrison’s minders at the heart of his doldrums
Perhaps a day will come when the champion rorters, liars, and conscious mis-managers of public resources are before a serious corruption commission and out on their ears.... Continue reading »
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Hans Kung: a theologian for everyone
Hans Küng died last Tuesday aged 93. I had the honour of knowing him as a friend. He was a rare breed: a theologian who spoke to people of diverse beliefs and none.... Continue reading »
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Housing affordability is a problem. Here’s why super-for-housing isn’t a solution
The idea that young Australians should be able to dip into their super to help buy their first home keeps going round and round. The most recent iteration put forward by the Coalition’s Tim Wilson and a clutch of other backbenchers has the catchy slogan Home First, Super Second.... Continue reading »
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Melissa Parke successfully settles defamation case against pro-Israeli commentator
Melissa Parke has successfully settled defamation legal proceedings with pro-Israeli commentator Colin Rubinstein over his claims that Parke had been anti-Semitic in her remarks on Israeli treatment of Palestinians.... Continue reading »
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WA election: an untold story
Of course, the main story about the WA election is the scale of the Labor victory. However, there is an untold story: the total failure of the “don’t give Labor total control message.”... Continue reading »
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Response to Brendan Coates on Retirement Income System
While Brendan Coates makes some valid criticisms of Paul Keating’s recent claims about Australia’s retirement income system, his own claims and assumptions (and those of the Retirement Income Review) are also open to question.... Continue reading »
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