A five-minute scroll
Concerns over police actions in Germany, proof the British Government knows that Israel is committing genocide and Trump…
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Dutton’s perennial stupidity of undirected public service cuts
One of the seminal characteristics of political populist idiocy is the trumpeting of an intention to carve up the population of public servants. The underlying assumption is that the majority of electors will be greatly in favour of this, as they surely believe that all their ills with interaction with the PS are the result Continue reading »
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Australia’s future and the forthcoming federal election
With the election again of Donald Trump as president of the United States, and our own federal election coming very soon, we need to think about to the sort of future we want for our children and theirs. Continue reading »
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The government hasn’t exactly been doing nothing
With a Federal Election looming, Australians will soon be asked to make a choice about which party they want to lead the nation — whether in majority or minority government — for the next three years. Continue reading »
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Sourcing antisemitism: ‘Paid actors’ and urgent questions to be asked
In a recent podcast, award-winning US journalist, author, and film maker Max Blumenthal underlined the importance of following up stories “that are on the public record, but not getting adequate attention”. A concerning example was explored in his podcast, titled “Australian Authorities: ‘Paid Actors’ Spreading Anti-Semitism from Abroad”. Continue reading »
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Trump’s and Musk’s monopoly board
Christopher Pyne, one-time Australian minister of the crown, gratuitously recommends Greenlanders embrace Trump’s desired purchase of Greenland on the basis they would be financially far better off. Hello, is everything to be valued exclusively in financial terms? Is this what human beings are all about? Continue reading »
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Snouts in the trough
Ah! Peter Dutton loves the past when sheilas knew their place, blokes were blokes and boozy lunches were a key characteristic of the business environment. Continue reading »
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A five-minute scroll
Bisan Owda shares how Israel is violating the ceasefire from Gaza. Hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets in London, marching for Palestine. Gideon Levy writes in response to Palestinian prisoners on their knees wearing Israeli T-shirts stating “we will not forget nor forgive”. UK Palestine Mental Health Network says there is no PTSD Continue reading »
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The problem of God
In a recent post Eric Hunter asked: “Why doesn’t God save the world?” (P&I, 10 February 2025). It’s an interesting question, usually framed under the rubric of “the problem of evil.” Hunter prefers to believe in science rather than to believe in God. So why did he post about God in the first place? Continue reading »
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Caligula’s horse and Washington
“Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future, too.” Marcus Aurelius Continue reading »
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Thousands of Australian pets may soon have ‘useless’ microchips. It’s a symptom of a bigger problem
Late last year, rumours swirled online that HomeSafeID, a private Australian pet microchip registry, had stopped operating. Continue reading »
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Pitt may not be best fit as ambassador to the Holy See
Diplomatic appointments usually don’t get much news coverage unless it’s a retiring politician getting appointed. Apparently Australian ambassador to the Holy See is one such plum job. Continue reading »
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Who should take responsibility for youth crime?
A baby might be kicked into life as the result of a careless moment behind the woodshed or a romantic frolic in a grand four-poster bed. Either way, nine months later, that squirming mass of new life will enter the world – wanted or unwanted, prepared for or not. Continue reading »
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Demonisation of the Palestine movement fuels anti-Muslim and Arab racism
The spate of anti-Muslim racist attacks around the country are being fuelled by the anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian policies of mainstream politicians. Political attempts to undermine the Palestine movement and bipartisan support for Israel’s genocide are causing this. Continue reading »
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First AUKUS meeting of Trump 2.0: Business as usual
February 7 saw the first AUKUS meeting held between officials of the Trump administration and their Australian servitors since the changing of the guard in the White House. In attendance was the US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and his unbearably compliant Australian counterpart Richard Marles. From all general appearances, the sense was that a change Continue reading »
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Free meals threatened – and threatening
Before the 18th century Enlightenment, church and state in Europe were one. In Indonesia, fears that Islam will infiltrate civic affairs go back to the founding of the Republic. Instead, the threats are not from the mosques, but the military. Continue reading »
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Trump and Christianity – Why it matters
Trump has created what he calls a ‘Faith Office’ within the White House and appointed a Pentecostal pastor from Florida, Paula White, to lead it. Ms White, widely described in mainstream Christianity as a heretic, teaches a transactional faith. In other words, faith is demonstrated in prosperity. Continue reading »
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ABC sycophancy erodes our democracy
As a 60 year veteran consumer of the ABC on radio, television and on-line, I am dismayed with the national broadcaster’s declining relevance, professionalism and integrity. The place is a mess, clearly made worse under the control of Ita Buttrose and David Anderson. Continue reading »
