Writer
Noel Turnbull
Noel Turnbull has had a 40-year-plus career in public relations, politics, journalism and academia. He blogs at http://noelturnbull.com/blog/
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Want to solve Australia’s housing crisis? Look to Vienna
What do you think of when you think of Vienna? Probably not a model for affordable housing in Australia. Continue reading »
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The Great Australian Silence
Voice proponents flood the streets of major cities as Australian media battles its ‘cult of forgetfulness.’ Continue reading »
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Where are the better angels of our soul?
The Age/SMH Resolve Strategic poll on the Voice referendum was a dramatic reminder that progressives should always be ready for a profound kick in the guts. Continue reading »
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Could Trump be banned from the Presidency?
Could Donald Trump be banned from standing as President? Even in the world of Trumpist paranoid delusions and social media posts it seems improbable. Continue reading »
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What do we want? War! When do we want it? Continually!
Post 9/11 the US embarked on a series of wars to ‘make the world safe’ and more importantly settle old and new scores. Continue reading »
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Parliament of Hills: What a parliament full of Julian Hills could achieve…
It is probably the kiss of political death to promote and celebrate the work of a Labor Government backbencher. After all promotion in the party might be partly due to competence but factional allegiance is more significant. Having too high a profile is probably not an advantage either. But nevertheless… Continue reading »
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What do climate denialists say when the facts change?
John Maynard Keynes is widely believed to have said: Well, when the facts change I change my mind. What do you do? It was probably actually Paul Samuelson although Keynes did say something vaguely similar. Continue reading »
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Will the media miss another massive grassroots campaign?
A great illustration of how much of the media totally overlooks the huge grassroots campaign for Yes is the fact that the Jewish community’s far-reaching campaign has been unsighted in mainstream media coverage of the referendum. Continue reading »
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New research on when AMOC may go amok
There has been much research and speculation about whether the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC, or more popularly the Gulf Stream) may collapse and what the consequences might be. Now there is new 2023 research which firms up predictions as to when it might happen. The bad news – it might be earlier than previously Continue reading »
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400 years and counting: Your social status is determined by class
Due to the entrenched English class system, research has shown that the strong familial persistence of social status across generations has not changed in the UK across 400 years of accumulated data. With growing inequality and the emergence of ultra-wealthy and privileged classes in Australia – are we following the same path? Continue reading »
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What gets some whitefellas angry and anxious
There is nothing that agitates some whitefellas more than an intelligent, articulate and charismatic blackfella. Continue reading »
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Very modern Major General
The Australian War Memorial Council believes it’s a strength that Council members can campaign against Council decisions – a far sighted and enlightened view in many ways but also one that could allow a minority to undermine the AWM’s mission. Continue reading »
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Another great example of English hypocrisy
Why oh why is anyone surprised by English reaction to the Bairstow stumping? Continue reading »
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Ostensibly Voice campaigns are binary – support for yes or no
But underneath the overall campaign are a multitude of subsets of campaign groups and tactics. Continue reading »
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Propaganda works: But Australians still do not want war
The latest Lowy Institute Poll reflects a range of complicated and confusing Australian reactions to our place in the world; the threats we face; and what we think we should do about them. Continue reading »
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How were Indigenous warriors who did wear ‘the uniform’ treated?
While there are some – such as Major General Melick – concerned about not depicting warriors in the Frontier Wars, because they didn’t wear a uniform, in the Australian War Memorial, it is worth remembering how appalling the treatment of Indigenous veterans who did wear ‘the uniform’ over the last century or so were treated. Continue reading »
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Greg Melick, the AWM and Frontier Wars
Major General Greg Melick, a member of the Australian War Memorial Council, would be in a very interesting position in any public company committed to best practice corporate governance principles. Continue reading »
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Our greatest blunders
Ten years ago Anthony King and Ivor Crewe published their book – The Blunders of Our Governments. Continue reading »
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If only it was happening in Australia
The French Government’s Research Minister, Silvie Retailleau, has announced a plan to shake up the country’s scientific research including investing an extra Euro 26 billion (equivalent to A$42.5 billion.) Continue reading »
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World’s biggest democracy?
What would Australians, and much of the world, say if the Albanese Government arrested Peter Dutton and locked him up? Continue reading »
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Has Dominion spelt the end of Murdoch influence in Australia?
The alternative universe occupied by the Murdoch media and its consumers is facing a very expensive and damaging confrontation with reality. But how and whether this affect the Australian operations are another question. Continue reading »
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There is an irony in the Voice debate
There is a profound irony in the current Voice debate – could Dutton be one of the Yes campaigns significant vote winners? Continue reading »
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Aston insights into Liberal world view
Perhaps the most significant thing about the Aston by-election was the comment on the result by Peter Dutton – a comment which provides a profound insight into Liberal thinking and why the Liberal Party is in trouble. Continue reading »
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Rupert Murdoch has a wicked problem
Rupert Murdoch has a wicked problem. Many of the politicians who bent, or even grovelled, when his News media outlets blew on them are no longer scared. On the other hand News – particularly Fox – is showing signs that it is scared of its own audiences. Continue reading »
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Guardian Essential Poll: AUKUS support collapses, 3-in-4 oppose
Reflecting the diminishing public support for the AUKUS deal, a new Guardian Essential Poll has found that only one quarter of Australians support paying the $368bn price tag to acquire nuclear submarines. For decades Australians were gung ho about going to war – almost any war. Today – despite the best efforts of the Nine Continue reading »
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International Best Practice? Australia could do better
A couple of decades ago the phrase international best practice seemed to be on the lips of just about every business leader, business and economics journalists and the odd politician. Continue reading »
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Is Rupert running out of political clout and financial luck?
Rupert Murdoch may be running out of political clout and financial luck. Continue reading »
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John Pesutto – What are his chances?
Election night TV coverages blur into one big indigestible mass as the years go by. Yet every now and again a few stand out. Continue reading »
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Murdoch media problems
The good news for the Murdoch media is that it’s not the most distrusted brand in Australia – despite the efforts of its journalists. Continue reading »
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Why the Dutton Voice approach won’t work
Opinion polls suggest Peter Dutton and his media accomplices – both Murdoch and the Nine Newspapers – are having some initial success in confusing The Voice issue. Continue reading »
