Australia needs a capability state
Australia has immense natural, financial and scientific wealth, but has failed to turn enough of it into productive industries, skills and long-term national capability.
The disappearance of political shame
The Labor party has drifted away from its principles when it comes to funding public education, one of the nation's defining democratic institutions.
AUKUS leaves Australia with the long nuclear goodbye – part two
In the second of a two-part series, Peter Briggs examines the decommissioning, dismantling and waste-disposal risks Australia will inherit from AUKUS reactors.
Multiculturalism is the middle ground Australia needs
In the first of a two-part series, Robin Brown and Nick Bogiatzis argue that the moral values claimed as Western are common human values – and deeply present in the world's oldest continuing culture.
Artists need copyright plus in the age of AI
Copyright law has long served owners and technology companies more effectively than creators. AI licensing now makes the case for stronger protection for artists.
Strengthening Medicare shouldn’t ignore the Australians who rely on private health cover
Before cutting private health insurance rebates, the government should hear older Australians who rely on cover as a safeguard against delay, uncertainty and worsening health.
Climate, not China, is the Pacific’s real security threat
Australia and New Zealand warn about China’s missile test while spending billions on military integration and lagging on the climate threat facing Pacific neighbours.
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A new multi-nodal world is taking shape
In remarks delivered to Chinese participants in the Cambridge Executive Leadership Program, Chas Freeman argues that 500 years of Euro-Atlantic dominance has come to an end.
Concentrated power crushing freedom of expression in Cambodia
What an edition of a Siam Reap newspaper reveals about law and politics in Cambodia and constraints on freedom of speech.
Environment: Governments must use the evidence to encourage low-carbon lifestyles
Encouraging people to adopt low-carbon lifestyles is useful but no silver bullet for climate change. Plus, deep sea mining of thermal vents may look commercially attractive but will lead to the extinction of many unique animals.
Before the AUKUS submarines arrive, Australia inherits the risks – part one
In the first of a two-part series, Peter Briggs examines the technical and security risks of relying on highly enriched uranium and an unproven British reactor design for AUKUS submarines.
For Putin, anything short of victory is defeat
Russia is feeling the cost of the war, but Putin’s authority rests on victory, force and fear. Lasting peace would require a political reckoning.
How the Royal Commission should define antisemitism
Drawn from his submission to the Royal Commission, Gareth Evans argues for a definition of antisemitism that protects Jewish Australians without suppressing legitimate criticism of Israel.
New ‘G Minus 2’ order, Trump red-line test, and sea’s real battles – Asian Media Report
Nations’ new ways of working together, Xi’s nuclear deterrent display, scandal probe’s link to scandal probe, South China Sea’s geopolitical reality, Korean company’s record market listing, and the region’s shadow baby trade.
Gaza: from genocide to engineering genocide
In Gaza, Israel's systematic process of engineering genocide is stripping Palestinians of their aspirations and humanity. Their lives have been reduced to mere biological survival.
How big is the wolf? China in the Pacific
China’s Pacific missile test deserves scrutiny, but it should be understood in the context of decades of naval development and deterrence, not treated as proof of an imminent threat.
No case for muzzling ABC and SBS reporting on Israel
Claims of ABC bias against Israel in its reporting of current Middle East conflicts defy the truth and the professional and impartial tradition of ABC staff reporters.
From Astral Weeks to the “Iron Cage”: Van Morrison and the disenchantment of the World
Van Morrison’s career traces a cultural movement from youthful openness and spiritual wonder towards bitterness, calculation and disenchantment.
The world does not need more risk managers
Politics and institutions are increasingly governed by risk management, not leadership. But real leadership requires imagination, courage and the willingness to challenge false stories.
The antisemitism commission must hear the voices it excludes
The focus of Block 3 of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion was on online hate but the commission did not hear about the hate directed at pro-Palestinian groups.
Australia's disability budget – a plea for recalibration
Australian governments can find billions to spend on weaponry that maims but not on the NDIS, which is facing budget saving measures that will have malign consequences.
The government asked charities what reform was needed; it has the answer
Reforms to strengthen protections for public interest advocacy by charities need to be legislated this year.
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 PDFLatest letters to the editor
Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism
Mark Diesendorf — Sydney NSW
Mad Trump and nuclear weapons
David Griffiths — Mordialloc VIC 3195
No accountability, no restraint
Peter Sheehy — Blackheath NSW
The Israeli lobby accountable for antisemitism
Alistair Campbell — Bacchus Marsh, Victoria
We are discussing murder here
Hal Duell — Alice Springs
Gareth Evans defines what offends others
Simon Tatz — Melbourne
The USA versus China: China wins every time
Les Macdonald — Balmain NSW 2041
Indecency masquerading as serious policy
Les Macdonald — Balmain NSW 2041
