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- PETER GOERS. With China, many Aussies are absolute hypocrites (Sunday Mail 31.5.20)
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- The Myth of Chinese Money in Australia
- The strange case of Shaoquett Moselmane and the AFP and ASIO raid.
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- Judge Dyson, moving in the lower circles of hell
- Saturday’s good reading and listening for the weekend
- Canberra Shuffles its China Briefcase to decouple,rather than improve relations.
- Our dream run over COVID has come to an end
Author Archives: John Menadue
High Court Judges and not just Dyson Heydon
A High Court judge colluded in the dismissal of a Prime Minister. The separation of powers was put aside. My confidence in our institutions took a battering.
Posted in Politics
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John Menadue. Comments on Pearls and Irritations.
As many readers may have noticed, we have moved to an automated comments program called Disqus which allows you to sign up via Facebook and Twitter. It also vets obnoxious comments and ads. Otherwise our comments policy remains the same.
Posted in Politics
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JOHN MENADUE. Michael Mullins as Guest Editor
For three weeks from Monday 15 June, Michael Mullins will be Guest Editor of Pearls and Irritations. Michael was formerly Editor of Eureka Street.
Posted in Media
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Robert Hendrickson on Donald Trump’s Church fiasco
Robert Hendrickson, Rector, Saint Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church on Donald Trump’s ‘lies and childish inanities.’
Posted in Politics
4 Comments
JOHN MENADUE. The dangerous and erratic ally that offers us ‘protection’! An updated repost. Part 2 of 2
Yesterday I discussed US ‘exceptionalism’ and that the US is almost always at war. Today I discuss the US domestic sickness- a failing democracy,inequality, racism and violence.
Posted in Politics
26 Comments
JOHN MENADUE. The dangerous and erratic ally that offers us ‘protection’! An updated repost. Part 1 of 2
Apart from brief isolationist periods, the US has been almost perpetually at war. The greatest military risk we run is being led by the nose into a US war with China. The record is clear. We have allowed ourselves to … Continue reading
Posted in Defence/Security, World Affairs
24 Comments
JOHN MENADUE. The Light From the Southern Cross.A Report on Catholic Church Governance
This confidential 208 page Report ‘promoting Co-Responsible Governance in the Catholic Church in Australia’ was commissioned by the Australian Catholic Bishops and Religious Superiors to review the Catholic Church’s governance and management structures. This followed the final report of the … Continue reading
Posted in Religion and Faith
6 Comments
JOHN MENADUE. Thanks to Ramesh Thakur
Many thanks to Ramesh Thakur who has been Guest Editor of Pearls and Irritations for last three weeks. I will be rolling up my sleeves again. Thanks also to writers and donors John Menadue
JOHN MENADUE. Comments in Pearls and Irritations
We are receiving an increased volume of comments on articles. That is very encouraging. But if comments are to be posted they should not exceed 100 words and must include the full name of the writer.
Posted in Politics
3 Comments
JOHN MENADUE. Ramesh Thakur as Guest Editor
For three weeks from Monday 4 May, Ramesh Thakur will be Guest Editor of Pearls and Irritations
Posted in Media
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JOHN MENADUE. Vale Greg Dodds.
After a long illness Greg Dodds died last week in Perth. Kim Beazley will speak at his funeral today(30 April 2020)
Posted in Tributes
9 Comments
JOHN MENADUE.- Vale Bob Sorby
Bob Sorby died last week. In tribute I repost an article that Bob wrote for Pearls and Irritation on 7 November 2017 concerning Rex Connor’s plans for Australia.
Posted in Politics
5 Comments
JOHN MENADUE. An explanation and apology to some subscribers.
I’m writing to apologise for any inconvenience some subscribers may have experienced in the transition from production being handled by myself to production being outsourced. Change often has some unintended consequences.
Posted in Uncategorized
6 Comments
Stopping the boats but not cruise ships.
Imagine stopping the boats the centrepiece of your entire political platform for 10 years, and then failing to stop the one boat that actually fucking mattered.
Posted in Politics
12 Comments
JOHN MENADUE.-Strengthening Pearls and Irritations.
From next week, we will be outsourcing the production, technical support and promotion of Pearls & Irritations.
Posted in Media
26 Comments
JOHN MENADUE.- Podcast ABC ‘The Eleventh’, February/March 2020
This is an edited transcript of an interview I conducted with the ABC for a podcast series The Eleventh.
Posted in Politics
7 Comments
JOHN MENADUE.- Democratic Renewal
Many Australians are sick and tired of politics and politicians .The situation is worsening .The community is deserting the major political parties in droves.
Posted in Politics
15 Comments
JOHN MENADUE.- Economic and money mismanagement
The Liberals claim that they are better economic and money managers. But there is scanty evidence to support that claim.
Posted in Economy, Politics
15 Comments
JOHN MENADUE: Justices of the High Court
No wonder we have lost confidence in institutions when Justices of the High Court act improperly
Posted in Politics
10 Comments
JOHN MENADUE What is a health service for?
A health service should be run in the interests of the public.Unfortunately any worthwhile reforms of our health sector to benefit the public are usually vetoed by providers with their special interests.
Posted in Health
5 Comments
JOHN MENADUE. We are paying to protect an industry that no longer exists( A repost)
We see it almost every day in the media; rent-seekers extracting benefits for themselves through political influence and lobbying at the expense of the broader community. It has very little to do with markets.
Posted in Politics
3 Comments
JOHN MENADUE. Who is responsible for ‘Commonwealth emergency management”?
The role of the Department of Home Affairs is clear
Posted in Politics
7 Comments
JOHN MENADUE. Our aggressive and violent ally is perpetually at war. An update from 9.8.2019
There is growing concern about Chinese ‘influence’. At the same time we seem unconcerned that we have ceded much of our defence and foreign policy autonomy to the United States. Chinese influence is minor compared with the control that we … Continue reading
Posted in Defence/Security, World Affairs
2 Comments
JOHN MENADUE. A Repost: Drug policy reform series
Attached is a collection of articles on drug policy reform, which were published as a series on Pearls and Irritations between 6 and 11 August 2018. This series is designed to draw attention to this important issue, and to the … Continue reading
Posted in Drug Reform
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JOHN MENADUE. The facts on boat arrivals that the media won’t face(A repost)
From September 2015, almost four years ago, Peter Hughes and I have pointed out repeatedly that Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison triggered the surge in boat arrivals from September 2011 and did not stop the boats as they claim from … Continue reading
JOHN MENADUE. Our intelligence agencies are out of control. A repost from 17 January 2019
We need intelligence agencies that are both competent and accountable. We have neither at the moment. We have witnessed the abject failure of bank regulators. Regulatory failure in the intelligence sector is even more in plain sight.
Posted in Defence/Security
4 Comments
JOHN MENADUE. Failed leadership. A repost from 17 September 2018
Good leadership is about facing the group up to the hard issues. Without clearly defining why and how we need to change and creating some disequilibrium there will be no worthwhile change. We have have had failed leadership on climate … Continue reading
Posted in Politics, Religion and Faith
3 Comments
JOHN MENADUE, GREG DODDS. The Asian Century and the Australian Smoko. A repost from 30 December 2013
The Asian Century and the Australian Smoko was first published in April 2012. This repost might be interesting holiday reading.(There has been little improvement in 8years .John Menadue)
Posted in Asia, World Affairs
1 Comment
JOHN MENADUE. The anti-China ‘think tank’ receives farewell largesse from the Coalition. (A Repost from 5.4.2019)
The ASPI is not an ‘independent’ think tank that it claims to be. It is ‘joined at the hip’ to the US defence/arms and intelligence complex and an enthusiastic supporter of almost all things American. Fed by our intelligence agencies … Continue reading
Posted in Asia, World Affairs
2 Comments
JOHN MENADUE.- Pearls and Irritations over the Holidays
There will be no posts on December 26, 27 and 28. Ian McAuley and Peter Sainsbury will have some weekend breaks. There will be some scheduled ‘holiday’ and some ‘new’ posts on other days. Many thanks to readers and contributors. … Continue reading
Posted in Media
5 Comments