Writer
P&I Guest Archive
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WILLIAM CASE. UMNO’s ethnoreligious order is not gone — just waiting.
Malaysia’s new Pakatan Harapan government rode to power on a pledge to clean up Malaysia’s foul politics. It was wise to focus on the UMNO-led Barisan Nasional’s transgressions: Pakatan’s appeal lay less in its own glowing imagery and manifesto than in the electorate’s widespread contempt for the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which leads the Continue reading »
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DEREK ABBOTT. The Way We Live Now.
In 1988, with the Hawke government successfully carrying through a program of profound economic reform while avoiding the social divisiveness that characterised Margaret Thatcher’s not dissimilar policies in Britain, and with John Howard’s toe in the water on a return to White Australia decisively rejected by his own party and the community at large, it was Continue reading »
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NICK KILVERT. Fossil record points to ‘major transformation’ of Australian ecosystems in next 100 years.
If the world continues on a “business-as-usual” trajectory on climate change, global ecosystems including Australia’s will undergo a “major transformation” over the next century. Continue reading »
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STEPHEN LONG. The reality is new coal power is not the answer for cheaper electricity bills (ABC News, 03.09.18)
The tipping point’s been reached: renewable energy is now a cheaper source of power for Australia’s future electricity needs than coal. Continue reading »
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DAVID SHULMAN. The Last of the Tzaddiks.
In the somewhat exotic Jewish home in Iowa where I grew up, it was axiomatic that there was an intimate link between Judaism and universal human rights. Like nearly all Eastern European Jewish families in America, my parents and grandparents were Roosevelt Democrats, to the point of fanaticism. They thought that the Jews had invented Continue reading »
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BEHROUZ BOOCHANI. Australia needs a moral revolution (the Guardian 31.08.18)
Five years ago, on a boiling hot day, Australian immigration minister Scott Morrison entered Manus Prison. A number of refugees who represented various groups were invited to meet with him. In that meeting, the refugee representatives found themselves being threatened – Morrison pointed his finger at them and yelled: “You have no chance of coming Continue reading »
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GABRIELLE CHAN. Climate change making drought worse, farmers’ federation chief says.
Fiona Simson says people have been tiptoeing around the subject for too long and it is time for a national strategy. Continue reading »
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GOOD READING AND LISTENING FOR THE WEEKEND
A regular collection of links to writings and broadcasts covered in other media. Continue reading »
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GARRY WILLS. The Priesthood of The Big Crazy (The New York Review of Books, 23.08.18)
The grand jury report of Catholic priests’ predations in Pennsylvania is enough to make one vomit. The terrifying fact that hundreds of priests were preying upon over a thousand victims in that state alone makes one shudder at the thought of how many hundreds and thousands of abusers there are elsewhere in the nation, elsewhere Continue reading »
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ALESSANDRO DEMAIO. An evidence-based five-point plan to tackle child obesity in Australia.
Few challenges are a greater threat to the health of Australians than obesity. Weight gain has now become the norm—the biological and social path of least resistance. Within a decade and without significant government intervention, more Australians are expected to be obese than normal weight. Opportunities to stem the tide of obesity do exist – Continue reading »
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PETER SMALL. National Party and Climate
Why farmers who are at the forefront of the impact from climate change, continue to support the National Party, a party of climate sceptics? After a week of unfathomable machinations in Canberra, a decade of climate wars and the “death” of five Prime Ministers we are no nearer to a policy on climate or energy Continue reading »
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TRISTAN EDIS. Turnbull was knifed by a lie: Renewables are already bringing prices down.
Australia has replaced yet another Prime Minister mid-term via a leadership coup. Continue reading »
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WALEED ALY. Dutton’s au pair drama shows hypocrisy of immigration policy (SMH 31/8/2018)
“As a discretionary and humanitarian act to an individual with ongoing needs, it is in the interests of Australia as a humane and generous society to grant this person a tourist visa.” That’s Peter Dutton, then immigration minister, in the official document by which he intervened to allow an au pair to enter the country. Continue reading »
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JANE CADZOW. The watchman – Scott Morrison (Sun Herald, 3 November 2012)
Accused of inflaming racism, Scott Morrison insists people have the wrong idea about him. Jane Cadzow meets the Liberals’ immigration spokesman. This article was published in the Sun Herald on 3 November 2012 . In his maiden speech in 2008 Scott Morrison said ‘From my faith, I derive the values of loving kindness, justice and Continue reading »
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DAVID GOLDMAN. Europe, Japan, China and Russia line up against US.
Investment patterns are shifting in response to America’s new assertiveness. Continue reading »
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CNN Interview with New York Mayer BILL de BLASIO (DEM) on Rupert Murdoch’s media
BRIAN STELTER, CNN HOST: Welcome back to RELIABLE SOURCES. I’m Brian Stelter. If you asked New York City’s mayor what lies behind a lot of the negativity and the divisiveness creeping this nation, he’s got a simple answer for you. He says it’s the media empire of Rupert Murdoch that’s at fault. Bill de Blasio Continue reading »
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JAMES FERNYHOUGH. Climate change action off the agenda under Morrison government.
Energy Minister Angus Taylor has unveiled a new energy policy focused exclusively on reducing electricity prices, in a strong signal the Morrison government will abandon all efforts to lower carbon emissions. Continue reading »
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NEAL BLEWETT. Establishing, defending and improving Medicare.
Neal Blewett AC delivered the Hayden Oration at Ipswich on 15 August 2018. Neal Blewett as Minister for Health from 1983 under the Hawke government, and later Minister for Community Services and Health, implemented the Medicare universal health scheme, disability services, campaigns to reduce tobacco and alcohol abuse, and a national strategy to combat AIDS/HIV. Continue reading »
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ANDREW JAKUBOWICZ A multicultural whirlwind blowing up for the next election
Turnbull’s gone and with him, hopefully, his recurrent but incorrect mantra of Australia as the most successful multicultural society in the world. With the next federal election now just over the horizon, understanding how the ethnic vote delivered the last election to the Coalition may help us to understand how Australia’s multicultural present could Continue reading »
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E. TAMMY KIM. Moon Over Korea (New York Review of Books 16.08.18 Issue)
Moon Jae-in eui Unmyeong [The Destiny of Moon Jae-in] by Moon Jae-in Seoul: Bookpal, 488 pp., ₩15,000 In Singapore on June 12, as Donald Trump vigorously shook hands with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, the man behind this improbable meeting leaned forward in his chair and smiled. South Korean president Moon Jae-in, just thirteen months into Continue reading »
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TONY KEVIN. Australian politics: There has not been nearly enough change.
Reflections on last week’s political bloodbath and on what needs to happen now. Continue reading »
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JOHN CARMODY: The Catholic Right
While Malcolm Turnbull’s own manifest lack of political skills and understanding has played a major role in his downfall, he and others are perfectly correct to recognise that “outside forces” – including some journalists and other media figures who seek to be “players” rather than simply observers and commentators – have also contributed significantly to Continue reading »
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ANTONIO SPADARO SJ. The prosperity gospel-dangerous and different
SCOTT MORRISON is described as a devout Christian who worships at Shirelive, an American style Pentecostal Church in Sydney.. He formerly belonged to Hillsong. An essential feature of the ‘prosperity gospel’ of Pentecostalists is that prosperity, success and good health is a sign of God’s favour. And the lack of faith leads to poverty and Continue reading »
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SCOTT BURCHILL. Anti-Americanism and moral panic in the West
After a similar challenge posed by George W. Bush following popular opposition to his invasion and occupation of Iraq, the Trump presidency is another reminder to America’s allies of the dangers that emerge when individuals, rather than economic and political structures, are considered significant agents of change. Continue reading »
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JAMES KYNGE. The US cannot halt China’s march to global tech supremacy.
The moment may one day be glorified in propaganda art. As the mist rolled off the Yangtze River, Xi Jinping stood on top of the Three Gorges hydropower dam in Yichang, a proud symbol of engineering prowess, and proclaimed that China would blaze its own trail to become a technology superpower. Continue reading »
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DAVID HUTT. Does China really dominate Southeast Asia?
Widespread reports of China’s hegemony over the neighbouring region miss the nuance of fast-shifting political and strategic dynamics. Continue reading »
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BRUCE WEARNE. Has the Party Ended?
“I’m not doing anything until I get legal advice as to whether his (Dutton’s) membership of the Parliament is constitutional.” Continue reading »
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GOOD READING AND LISTENING FOR THE WEEKEND
A regular collection of links to writings and broadcasts covered in other media. Continue reading »
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JANE McADAM, JOHN CHURCH. Rising seas will displace millions of people – and Australia must be ready
Sea-level rise is already threatening some communities around the world, particularly small island states, as it exacerbates disasters resulting from storm surges and flooding. Continue reading »