FOI changes big backward step for government transparency
Greg Barns

FOI changes big backward step for government transparency

There has been much commentary, most of it critical, about federal Attorney-General Michelle Rowland’s recently introduced Bill that amends the Freedom of Information Act by restricting access through measures that will allow undermine a core democratic principles – accountability by government to the people it serves.

Vale Pat Power, a true minister
Paul Collins

Vale Pat Power, a true minister

The Australian Catholic Church lost one of its genuine leaders on Monday morning with the death of 83-year-old Bishop Patrick Power, retired Auxiliary-Bishop of Canberra Goulburn.

Fifty years without coups or dictators: How PNG built a durable democracy based on dignity and fairness
Brad Underhill,  Helen Gardner

Fifty years without coups or dictators: How PNG built a durable democracy based on dignity and fairness

On 20 April 1972, 100 newly elected parliamentarians gathered in Port Moresby for the opening of the Third House of Assembly, Papua New Guinea’s legislative body.

Donate

Support our  independent media

Pearls and Irritations is funded by our readers through flexible payment options. Choose to make a monthly or one off payment to support our informed commentary

Donate
Australia issues ‘terrifying’ climate warning
Julian Cribb

Australia issues ‘terrifying’ climate warning

More intense global warming will bring terrifying impacts to human health, infrastructure, the environment, national security and the economy, the Australian Government has warned.

Islamophobia reports are not enough
Shaymaa Elkadi

Islamophobia reports are not enough

For decades, Muslims in Australia have been asked to give evidence, to share their trauma, and to trust that government inquiries will bring change.

Confucius Institute decline signals China’s soft power shift
Jocelyn Chey

Confucius Institute decline signals China’s soft power shift

While Chinese soft power is thriving in the so-called Global South, it is waning elsewhere.

Volunteer doctors describe how Israeli troops ‘deliberately targeted’ Gaza children
Brett Wilkins

Volunteer doctors describe how Israeli troops ‘deliberately targeted’ Gaza children

“How is it possible that, in this small hospital, four children are lying here with gunshot wounds to the head – all admitted within the past 48 hours?” said one US trauma surgeon.

We’re going up in the financial world, but no one’s noticed
Ross Gittins

We’re going up in the financial world, but no one’s noticed

Economists like us to think they’re coolly rational in all things. Nah. They’re just as susceptible to fads and fashions as the rest of us.

The rise of China and learning the correct lessons from history
EAF editors The Australian National University

The rise of China and learning the correct lessons from history

Given that the only certainty in international affairs these days is uncertainty, we should probably be circumspect about projecting how the world might look decades down the track — let alone how our current moment might be portrayed in the rearview mirror of history.

Devastating climate risk report shows need to slash emissions 75%, deploy green capital fast
Tim Buckley,  AM Jonson

Devastating climate risk report shows need to slash emissions 75%, deploy green capital fast

The Albanese Government is reportedly set to announce its new National Determined Contributions  ( NDCs) to 2035 this week – its emissions reduction targets under our Paris Agreement obligations.

As Europe diversifies its defence, Canberra still clings to AUKUS
Gregory Andrews

As Europe diversifies its defence, Canberra still clings to AUKUS

Anthony Albanese is about to pour more than $12 billion into a new AUKUS submarine base in Perth.

Latest on Palestine and Israel

Islamophobia reports are not enough
Shaymaa Elkadi

Islamophobia reports are not enough

For decades, Muslims in Australia have been asked to give evidence, to share their trauma, and to trust that government inquiries will bring change.

Volunteer doctors describe how Israeli troops ‘deliberately targeted’ Gaza children
Brett Wilkins

Volunteer doctors describe how Israeli troops ‘deliberately targeted’ Gaza children

“How is it possible that, in this small hospital, four children are lying here with gunshot wounds to the head – all admitted within the past 48 hours?” said one US trauma surgeon.

‘We took the gloves off’: Former Israeli military chief admits 220,000 Gaza casualties
Brett Wilkins

‘We took the gloves off’: Former Israeli military chief admits 220,000 Gaza casualties

A former Israel Defence Forces chief of staff says more than over 10% of Gaza’s population of approximately 2.2 million was killed or injured since October 2023.

Attacking Qatar shows Israel doesn’t want a Gaza ceasefire
Abubakr Al-Shamahi

Attacking Qatar shows Israel doesn’t want a Gaza ceasefire

Netanyahu keeps changing his position on a Gaza ceasefire, using different ploys to keep the war going.

The UN turns 80
Alison Broinowski

The UN turns 80

The most important agenda item for the United Nations General Assembly this month will be the future of Palestine. But Palestinian leaders will be unable to discuss it, because they will be absent.

When Albanese thanked a wanted war criminal
Jaron Sutton

When Albanese thanked a wanted war criminal

Monday, 11 August 2025, was a dark day in Australian political history. On that day, a serving Australian prime minister publicly thanked a wanted war criminal.

Genocide – Armenia (1915-16) and Gaza (2023-25)
Adrian Lipscomb

Genocide – Armenia (1915-16) and Gaza (2023-25)

The term “genocide”, and its codification in international law, has its origins in the mass murder of Armenians in 1915–16.

‘No safe place left’ as Israel moves to ethnically cleanse nearly 1m Gazans
Brett Wilkins

‘No safe place left’ as Israel moves to ethnically cleanse nearly 1m Gazans

“This is the latest chapter in the genocide that Israel is committing in Gaza and part of a broader campaign of ethnic cleansing engulfing the entire Gaza Strip,” said Oxfam International.

John Menadue's book on Israel's war against Gaza

Israel's war against Gaza

Media coverage of the war in Gaza since October 2023 has spread a series of lies propagated by Israel and the United States. This publication presents information, analysis, clarification, views and perspectives largely unavailable in mainstream media in Australia and elsewhere.

Download the PDF

Latest on China

Confucius Institute decline signals China’s soft power shift
Jocelyn Chey

Confucius Institute decline signals China’s soft power shift

While Chinese soft power is thriving in the so-called Global South, it is waning elsewhere.

The rise of China and learning the correct lessons from history
EAF editors The Australian National University

The rise of China and learning the correct lessons from history

Given that the only certainty in international affairs these days is uncertainty, we should probably be circumspect about projecting how the world might look decades down the track — let alone how our current moment might be portrayed in the rearview mirror of history.

China’s giant military parade didn’t surprise just the West
Geoff Raby

China’s giant military parade didn’t surprise just the West

China’s recent display of its newly acquired military might surprised not only international observers, but also its own seasoned diplomats.

John Menadue

Support our independent media with your donation

Pearls and Irritations leads the way in raising and analysing vital issues often neglected in mainstream media. Your contribution supports our independence and quality commentary on matters importance to Australia and our region.

Donate

More from Pearls and Irritations

China’s giant military parade didn’t surprise just the West
Geoff Raby

China’s giant military parade didn’t surprise just the West

AFP won’t look in the mirror of a murder of one of their own
Jack Waterford

AFP won’t look in the mirror of a murder of one of their own

Out of darkness comes a shaft of cheer
Duncan Graham

Out of darkness comes a shaft of cheer

The martyrdom of Charlie Kirk
Chris Hedges

The martyrdom of Charlie Kirk

‘We took the gloves off’: Former Israeli military chief admits 220,000 Gaza casualties
Brett Wilkins

‘We took the gloves off’: Former Israeli military chief admits 220,000 Gaza casualties

What will happen if/when the AI bubble bursts
Noel Turnbull

What will happen if/when the AI bubble bursts

Attacking Qatar shows Israel doesn’t want a Gaza ceasefire
Abubakr Al-Shamahi

Attacking Qatar shows Israel doesn’t want a Gaza ceasefire

New ‘thought policing’ bill may let Rubio strip passports from US citizens over political speech
Stephen Prager

New ‘thought policing’ bill may let Rubio strip passports from US citizens over political speech

Landmark report to combat Islamophobia in Australia launched
Zia Ahmad

Landmark report to combat Islamophobia in Australia launched

Australia needs to diplomatically disengage from our 'dangerous ally'
John Menadue

Australia needs to diplomatically disengage from our 'dangerous ally'

Message from the editor
Catriona Jackson

Message from the editor

media,  politics,  usa,  world
Essential APS reform – more to do
Andrew Podger

Essential APS reform – more to do

Latest letters to the editor

America, truly the 'farewell tour'

Les Macdonald — Balmain NSW 2041

Chris Hedges is one of the most perceptive and concerned observers of US decline. As in his book, America,The Farewell Tour, he makes a compelling case for that decline driven by extremist religious ideologies, rampant individualism and a self-destructive economic ideology. It is a society with a history of widespread resort to inter-personal violence from its very beginning in the genocide of the native peoples and the enslavement of black Africans for personal gain. Hedges has an almost unique capacity to draw all that history together with the current consequences of it, to make sense of an otherwise chaotic...
A foreign policy based on facts, not fears

Les Macdonald — Balmain NSW 2041

Geoff's article was a careful diplomat's assessment of how Australia might work more co-operatively with a rising, but peaceful China. It needs to be recognised that the vast increase in China's armed forces capabilities is a direct response to the decades-long encirclement of China by the US. It has no intention of allowing the US to begin another century of humiliation. It is adopting a sensible policy response to that effort by the US, by focusing on defence, not on the distant projection of military power. Its principal focus is the five principles for peaceful co-existence set out first...
It won’t be a surprise

Alyssa Aleksanian — Hazelbrook

The 2020s will be known as the decade when global leaders, paralysed by weakness and lack of courage, turned their backs on the greatest threat to humanity — impending climate disaster — and instead beat the drums of offshore war, until they actually had a few. Prior to that, they were lining their pockets with dosh from weapons contracts entered into because of those wars. Meanwhile, the population, smelling the deception, and feeling the growing anxiety of millions, sensing impending natural disasters, scarcity, high costs, financial instability and government waste, decided to take to the streets and make clear...
Integration into US defence force (Department of War)

Peter Sheehy — Blackheath NSW

The question in my mind is, have we gone past the tipping point in our integration into the US defence force (Department of War)? I suspect that we have because the type and number of US bases in Australia and the greater importance of the functionality of these bases are to the US. We think that we have the US where we want them. They think the same of Australia. After all, the tail does not wag the dog. We have lost sovereignty to the US (gave it away, all our own work). In a war with China...

Catch up on other sections

Arts 128 China 1189 Climate 1400 Commendations 19 Defence 2441 Economy 2799 Education 701
Employment 35 Finance 2 Health 1517 History 55 Immigration 962 Indigenous Affairs 380 Israel Palestine 1301
Media 1840 Podcast 43 Policy 194 Politics 18033 Racism 16 Religion 1230 Review 24
The Human Future 58 Our Top Five Each Week 2127 USA 524 World 1363

Latest from Al Jazeera

Belarus pardons 25 more prisoners under US pressure
Last week, 52 prisoners were released, including opposition leader Mikola Statkevich, now said to be back behind bars.
‘Terrorism’ charge on Mangione dismissed in health insurance exec’s killing
The 27-year-old US shooter still faces a second-degree murder charge and eight criminal counts.
Gaza City under relentless bombardment as Israel launches ground invasion
The UN chief calls Gaza situation 'horrendous' as a UN inquiry concludes that Israel’s two-year war is genocide.
Kenya seeks British national’s arrest in septic tank murder
In 2012, the body of Agnes Wanjiru was found in a septic tank at the Lion’s Court Hotel in central Nanyuki.
At least 50 dead after vessel carrying Sudanese refugees catches fire
In the Mediterranean Sea, at least 2,452 migrants or refugees died or went missing last year.
Trump’s UK visit: What’s on the agenda, schedule, what to expect
The visit comes at a sensitive time for the UK, which plans to lay on a display of royal pageantry for the US president.