7 October not a day to abuse protesters
Greg Barns

7 October not a day to abuse protesters

When it comes to the domestic political fallout from the Gaza conflict, there are no more reliable and uncritical friends of Israel than Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan and her New South Wales counterpart Chris Minns.

Hundreds of thousands flood cities across Europe to demand end to genocide in Gaza
Julia Conley

Hundreds of thousands flood cities across Europe to demand end to genocide in Gaza

An estimated 250,000 people dressed in red crowded into Museum Square in Amsterdam, demanding that the Dutch government end its support for Israel.

Inequality and the future of democracy
Michael Keating

Inequality and the future of democracy

Rising inequality and declining living standards have posed a threat to democracy in several democracies, but so far not in Australia. However, the increasing inequality of wealth, driven by housing becoming unaffordable without rich parents, is a threat.

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
Trump’s Gaza peace plan: Today, tomorrow and the day after
Ramesh Thakur

Trump’s Gaza peace plan: Today, tomorrow and the day after

Back in January last year, my Toda Policy Brief 182 was published with the title “Israel and Gaza: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.

The RBA says changing rates won’t raise house prices. I wouldn’t be so sure
Ross Gittins

The RBA says changing rates won’t raise house prices. I wouldn’t be so sure

The Reserve Bank has always denied that its manipulation of short-term interest rates to slow or hasten the growth in demand for goods and services plays any part in worsening the cost of home ownership. But I doubt this.

7 October 2023: Return of the Hannibal Directive and the genocide starts now - Part 2
Eugene Doyle

7 October 2023: Return of the Hannibal Directive and the genocide starts now - Part 2

By noon on 7 October 2023, news of Palestinians taking hostages grip the attention of Israel’s top military and political leadership who are gathered in the “Pit”, the Kirya bunker in Tel Aviv.

UK polls suggest Starmer is deeply unpopular. Can he survive another year?
Simon English

UK polls suggest Starmer is deeply unpopular. Can he survive another year?

Having led Labour to victory last year, the premier is struggling to build trust with his voters.

New school funding agreements deny full funding for public schools
Trevor Cobbold

New school funding agreements deny full funding for public schools

The claim by the prime minister, premiers and their education ministers that public schools will be fully funded by 2034 is a blatant falsehood.

Do politicians ever listen to the people or only the powerful?
Duncan Graham

Do politicians ever listen to the people or only the powerful?

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.’ Welsh word-wiz Dylan Thomas’ angry poem to his dying dad implied that the older man resisted passing. But for others, the end is welcome.

How the ALP outsourced the soul of higher education
John Frew

How the ALP outsourced the soul of higher education

For most of its history, the Australian Labor Party spoke of education as a public good, the light on the hill, a vision of collective progress through strong institutions, universal access, and the elevation of ordinary citizens.

Secret cargo: Inside Australia's covert F-35 parts pipeline to Israel
Peter Cronau

Secret cargo: Inside Australia's covert F-35 parts pipeline to Israel

At least 68 shipments of F-35 fighter jet parts have been flown on commercial passenger planes to Israel from Australia as recently as last month, leaked documents reveal.

Latest on Palestine and Israel

7 October not a day to abuse protesters
Greg Barns

7 October not a day to abuse protesters

When it comes to the domestic political fallout from the Gaza conflict, there are no more reliable and uncritical friends of Israel than Victoria’s Premier Jacinta Allan and her New South Wales counterpart Chris Minns.

Hundreds of thousands flood cities across Europe to demand end to genocide in Gaza
Julia Conley

Hundreds of thousands flood cities across Europe to demand end to genocide in Gaza

An estimated 250,000 people dressed in red crowded into Museum Square in Amsterdam, demanding that the Dutch government end its support for Israel.

Trump’s Gaza peace plan: Today, tomorrow and the day after
Ramesh Thakur

Trump’s Gaza peace plan: Today, tomorrow and the day after

Back in January last year, my Toda Policy Brief 182 was published with the title “Israel and Gaza: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.

7 October 2023: Return of the Hannibal Directive and the genocide starts now - Part 2
Eugene Doyle

7 October 2023: Return of the Hannibal Directive and the genocide starts now - Part 2

By noon on 7 October 2023, news of Palestinians taking hostages grip the attention of Israel’s top military and political leadership who are gathered in the “Pit”, the Kirya bunker in Tel Aviv.

Secret cargo: Inside Australia's covert F-35 parts pipeline to Israel
Peter Cronau

Secret cargo: Inside Australia's covert F-35 parts pipeline to Israel

At least 68 shipments of F-35 fighter jet parts have been flown on commercial passenger planes to Israel from Australia as recently as last month, leaked documents reveal.

‘Ban Israeli football’: Scholars urge UEFA to bar Israel over Gaza horrors
Ali Harb

‘Ban Israeli football’: Scholars urge UEFA to bar Israel over Gaza horrors

In a letter, legal experts have underscored the killing of Palestinian footballers and a UN panel’s finding that Israel is committing genocide.

7 October 2023: shocking yes, surprising no
Peter Rodgers

7 October 2023: shocking yes, surprising no

A new book on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Road to October 7 - a brief history of Palestinian Islamism, by Erik Skare, shows how the seeds of the Gaza war were sown over decades.

What are international protests revealing about Palestine, Israel and public opinion?
Meg Schwarz

What are international protests revealing about Palestine, Israel and public opinion?

When I first saw the figures on international protests from October 2023 to September 2025, I was fascinated. I hadn’t realised which countries had been most active and the results surprised me.

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

South Korea’s anti-China protests
Jeffrey Robertson

South Korea’s anti-China protests

This week, South Korean authorities expressed concern regarding the potential impact of anti-China protests during APEC.

Nation's innovation surge continues a long tradition
Christopher Tang

Nation's innovation surge continues a long tradition

Many in the West mistakenly think that China lacks innovation, but this view is outdated.

China’s youth: Between collectivism and the new individualism
John Frew

China’s youth: Between collectivism and the new individualism

On a recent trip through China, I was struck by the contrast between its classrooms and its city streets.

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

Australia faces a looming crisis of older women retiring in poverty. Here’s what we can do
Misha Schubert

Australia faces a looming crisis of older women retiring in poverty. Here’s what we can do

Steerage for the Australian-PNG navy?
Jack Waterford

Steerage for the Australian-PNG navy?

Rio Tinto flags early closure of Queensland’s biggest coal generator as LNP prepares new energy plan
Rachel Williamson

Rio Tinto flags early closure of Queensland’s biggest coal generator as LNP prepares new energy plan

‘Ban Israeli football’: Scholars urge UEFA to bar Israel over Gaza horrors
Ali Harb

‘Ban Israeli football’: Scholars urge UEFA to bar Israel over Gaza horrors

7 October 2023: shocking yes, surprising no
Peter Rodgers

7 October 2023: shocking yes, surprising no

World water in crisis
Julian Cribb

World water in crisis

Charlie Kirk, Andrew Hastie and the 'Christian' West: Some Christian pushback
Geoff Thompson

Charlie Kirk, Andrew Hastie and the 'Christian' West: Some Christian pushback

What are international protests revealing about Palestine, Israel and public opinion?
Meg Schwarz

What are international protests revealing about Palestine, Israel and public opinion?

Loot boxes are still rife in kids’ mobile games, despite ban on ‘gambling-like’ features
Taylor Hardwick,  Ben Egliston,  Leon Xiao,  Marcus Carter,  Tianyi Zhangshao

Loot boxes are still rife in kids’ mobile games, despite ban on ‘gambling-like’ features

7 October 2023: What really happened? Part 1
Eugene Doyle

7 October 2023: What really happened? Part 1

Message from the editor
Catriona Jackson

Message from the editor

Chris Hedges – Statement by the National Press Club ( 4 October 2025)
National Press Club of Australia

Chris Hedges – Statement by the National Press Club ( 4 October 2025)

Latest letters to the editor

The plight of older female pensioners

Janet Grevillea — Lake Macquarie

Yes, the inadequate aged pension and the shortage of affordable housing affects many older women. A friend in her late 70s is renting an affordable flat from an organisation that informs her that this accommodation is temporary and she will soon be again on the move. She regularly visits the local Housing NSW office, where there is a constant turnover of clearly demoralised staff and many requests for duplicate documentation, especially for copies of her most recent bank statements. When she produces one statement they ask for statements from her other banks, and she has to inform them,...
National Press Club dodges questions on Hedges

Kym Davey — Adelaide SA

I wrote to the National Press Club chief executive Maurice Reilly to protest his decision to cancel the address scheduled for Chris Hedges to speak on the situation in Gaza for journalists. I read the NPC media statement on the matter published in P&I on 5 October. There I noted Reilly's assertion that the decision to withdraw the invitation was made on the basis that (when) more details of the address were made available we decided to pursue other speakers on the matter”. I contacted Reilly and asked him to explain what that means. He referred me back to...
7 October: Prepare for the Zionist assault

Richard Llewellyn — Colo Vale

This won’t appear before we enter the second anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel. We can expect an explosion of anti-Hamas sentiment. We can expect a seismic level of regurgitation of gruesome allegations of Hamas atrocities, some of which will be true but there is a growing body of evidence that much of what is routinely spewed by the plethora of Zionist spokespeople is simply lies. Mussolini would be envious of their success. We need more well-researched, definitive, irrefutable, factual accounts such as Eugene Doyle’s work of what happened in order to base proper judgment....
Whom can I believe – the NPC or the journalist?

Carl Rathus — Brisbane

After reading Chris Hedges’ article in Pearls and Irritations, I was angry and disappointed with the National Press Club. Ready to write an angry letter. Then today I read the response from the NPC. I am now angry and disappointed with Hedges for misrepresenting the situation. I feel like Donald Trump. I end up believing the last person who had my ear. If this disagreement exists over the facts of a fairly straightforward situation — and both parties are considered honest and trustworthy — where does that leave me in deciding what to believe about more complicated and more...

Catch up on other sections

Arts 129 China 1199 Climate 1422 Commendations 19 Defence 2451 Economy 2834 Education 705
Employment 36 Finance 3 Health 1532 History 57 Immigration 964 Indigenous Affairs 382 Israel Palestine 1363
Media 1851 Podcast 43 Policy 201 Politics 18233 Racism 16 Religion 1232 Review 28
The Human Future 61 Our Top Five Each Week 2160 USA 553 World 1405

Latest from Al Jazeera

What is Insurrection Act, could it help Trump deploy troops to US cities?
Threat to invoke the Act comes amid protests in Portland and legal challenges against his anti-immigration crackdown.
Fifth French PM quits in three years: Can Macron survive, and what’s next?
An embattled President Macron is facing increasing calls to announce snap elections or even to step down.
Pope Leo plans symbolic debut foreign trips to Turkiye and Lebanon
Pontiff expected to appeal for peace in Middle East and address the region's Muslims and Christians.
Myanmar activists to sue Norway’s Telenor for handing data to military
Claimants say government used data to track and target activists in the wake of 2021 coup.
Is Donald Trump trying to dial back tensions with Brazil?
Trump's 50 percent tariffs on Brazil have strained ties. But experts say he might be smelling the coffee - literally.
What caused Nepal’s devastating flood damage and how was it contained?
Karki government has been praised for issuing early warnings and imposing road closures in response to flood forecasts.