Writer
Bronwyn Kelly
Bronwyn Kelly is the Founder of Australian Community Futures Planning and the author of By 2050: planning a better future for our children in 21st century democratic Australia and The People’s Constitution: the path to empowerment of Australians in a 21st century democracy. View her writing on Substack at bronwynkelly.substack.com or at austcfp.com.au
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Unmasked: The Crown is the enemy of the People
In the Commonwealth’s prosecution of whistleblower David McBride for his disclosures of possible crimes by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan, the Crown has (to date) been successful in arguing something that will surprise most Australians – that being that an Australian soldier does not serve Australia, or the Australian people or the public interest. Instead, a Continue reading »
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Executive overreach in Australia has reached the levels of an autocracy
Last week Australians were forced to suffer through the spectacle of their parliament being dragged to a new low as the Coalition hammered the Labor government for not being better prepared for the prospect that the Commonwealth might lose the most recent High Court case about whether indefinite detention of refugees is unlawful or unconstitutional. Continue reading »
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Remember Brexit? Australians will regret voting No on the Indigenous Voice
Australians have been able to witness the voter remorse that can arise when a nation votes on a specific question of policy in a referendum that has the potential to set their country on a new course. Referendum questions with that level of significance don’t come along very often for democratic nations but when they Continue reading »
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Crimes against future generations and humanity are not unlawful in Australia
It will probably shock most Australians but the political system which they take for granted to be a democracy capable of safeguarding their and their kids’ interests is hardly a democracy at all. Continue reading »
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Only by claiming our human rights can we prevent more crimes against our children
With the escalation of natural disasters in the last five years due to climate change it is now obvious – all too painfully obvious – that we have let our kids down, that we have robbed them of a decent future. Continue reading »
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Robodebt – it could all too easily happen again
Those Australians watching the findings of the Robodebt Royal Commission might take comfort from the evidence it provides that our justice system has shown itself to have at least some capacity to hold unjust governments to account – eventually. But a justice system is only as good as the laws it has to work with. Continue reading »
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Australian Values – it’s your choice, and there is an easy way to make it
Some readers may recall that under the Morrison government in 2020 the Department of Home Affairs released a document called Life in Australia: Australian values and principles. Continue reading »
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Yes, of course we need a Human Rights Act!
Australia is the only democratic country in the world without a charter of human rights in either legislation or the Constitution. Continue reading »
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Australians can now see whether parliaments are working for them
Many Australians might not realise that the 2022 federal election was the first to be accompanied by an independent report on the performance of the outgoing parliament in building a better Australia. Continue reading »
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Our human rights are fundamental to our chances of peace
Constitutional enshrinement of rights through a federal Human Rights Act is essential. Continue reading »
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Australia: can we avoid a future that is truly frightening?
The last few months, culminating in the announcement about the AUKUS agreement and the release of the 2023 IPCC Synthesis Report, have probably crystallised for many Australians a realisation that they are headed towards a future that is truly frightening. Continue reading »
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An Australia Day worth celebrating – how might we do it?
As is now usual around Australia Day, commentators from all sides of the argument weigh in to suggest new dates on which we might celebrate the founding of the nation. Henry Reynolds, for instance, has made a case for not celebrating on 26 January and in response in these pages David Havyatt has wondered whether Continue reading »
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Australians will miss a once in a century opportunity if we shirk a referendum on an Indigenous voice
David Solomon has raised an important issue in Pearls and Irritations this week. He has suggested some opinion leaders may argue there is little point in a referendum to enshrine a Voice for First Nations in Australia’s Constitution because the Commonwealth parliament already has the power to legislate for creation of such a “Voice” and Continue reading »
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Lies, damned lies and the Morrison government’s statistics
Retiring Liberal Party Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells has taken full aim at the “corrupt antics” of Scott Morrison and his “consigliere” Alex Hawke. If the Prime Minister and his inner circle have “no moral compass” and choose to lie at will, how can Australians get a grip on the facts and whether it’s time for a Continue reading »
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On Australia Day we must proclaim an Indigenous Voice to Parliament
The Uluru Statement from the Heart invites us all to walk with Indigenous Australians towards a better future. Let’s say yes. Continue reading »
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No Mr Morrison, that’s not a plan. This is a plan
Any government smart enough to set up an agency tasked with moving the economy into renewable energy could hold office for at least two decades. Continue reading »
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Morrison’s net zero deal with the Nationals won’t deal with climate change
The world will be watching, but on some reckonings, the Australian prime minister’s pledge at COP26 in Glasgow will be around 25 years too late. Continue reading »
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News Corp’s climate pivot perpetrates a new fraud and draws us closer to climate catastrophe
Not only does News Corp’s new climate change campaign come after years of spreading climate misinformation, it is also simply replacing its last fraud with another. Continue reading »
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Militarism or a civil revival: which will we choose?
In June 2021, John Menadue spoke for many concerned Australians in his Pearls and Irritations Public Policy Journal by saying “we need a civil revival“. Continue reading »
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Our democracy is broken – but it can be fixed
Democracy is broken. Or at least, gutter politics has dragged it off its pedestal. And certainly, if our quality of life is any measure, democracy is failing the majority of Australians. But there are solutions if the will is there. Continue reading »
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Twelve points to help journalists and save democracy
Despite what the Government and some of the mainstream media will have us believe, the “News Media Bargaining Code” does nothing to protect or enhance quality journalism in Australia. There are better ways to achieve that. Continue reading »
