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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NOEL TURNBULL. Nev is never in doubt
Reflecting on when the Prime Minister rang to ask him head the Government’s COVID-19 Task Force Nev Power said he couldn’t refuse the PM – reacting as any responsible citizen would. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. They’re not all knukcle-dragging proto fascists
It is often easy to imagine that all Americans are unhinged, gun-toting, Bible bashing, conspiracy believers, LBQT+ haters and Trump supporters. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. The devastating social costs of inequality
While the number of inequality indices and ratios is proliferating there has been less sustained attention to the social costs associated with it. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. Should companies using tax havens get pandemic stimulus funds?
Denmark and France are blocking pandemic financial assistance to any firms registered in tax havens. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. The origins of Anzackery
In the late 1950s and early 1960s Anzac Day was in decline – a malaise exemplified by Alan Seymour’s play “The One Day of the Year”, the origins of Anzackery. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. New insights into US attitudes to COVID-19
The phrase ‘only in America’ is one which is deep in possible meanings. In particular it lays itself open to the deconstruction demonstrated in the old Jewish joke about Stalin and Trotsky. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL.What a difference a change of government makes – to the Murdoch media
It is frequently asserted that if you change the government you change the country. But perhaps the assertion that if you change the government you also change the way the media – particularly the Murdoch media – reports on a government’s policies might be more apposite in Australia. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. Australians aren’t like that are they?
As consumers fight over toilet rolls and marauding bus-loads of city dwellers pillage local country stores of products, the PM says we will get through it all because we are Australians. This is probably a good time to ask the question – what are Australians really like? Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. Compulsive leadership posturing
The PM seems not to understand, leaders don’t have to demonstrate they are leaders – they just are. True leadership doesn’t have a particular style or descriptor. It just is. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. Mercenaries throughout history and film
The recent death of the 102 year old Michael ‘Mad Mike’ Hoare reminds us of when the last of the mercenaries who fought in the world’s wars were replaced by mega-mercenary companies to which the United States and others have outsourced many military operations. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. Credulity, stupidity and two types of infection
As the coronavirus infection spreads it is hard not to think that it might be a good idea for one of the recently infected, Peter Dutton, to be isolated on either Christmas or Manus Islands rather than one of the various properties he owns. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. Grand Prix’s grand claims
There may well be a benign side to the Australian Grand Prix’s consistent overstatement of how many people attend the event – the potential number of coronavirus infections will be correspondingly reduced by the multiple by which the Grand Prix exaggerates its attendance. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. The foundational U.S. myth
All societies survive on myths – whether fraudulent, foundational or both – but one of the most widely of those celebrated among Western world nations (other than Christmas and which encompasses both) is the US Thanksgiving holiday. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. COVID-19 communication in a pandemic
Most governments are hopeless at communicating risks – except for the imaginary ones they conjure up to attack their opponents. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. Who is the world’s outstanding journalist?
Who is the world’s outstanding journalist? It’s a question which seems particularly important given the current status of journalism; the rise of fake news online; and, the need for journalists to be constantly posting to get their employers’ online media figures up. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. The real ScoMo: A cross between Rasputin and Crocodile Dundee
Up until recently Morrison has managed one bit of very successful marketing – himself. But now the real ScoMo – the one seen in his career before politics – is becoming more apparent. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. Why not Huawei Jose?
Australia has, as usual, meekly followed suit to ban Huawei from a potential 5G network at the behest of the United States. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. Didn’t that go well?
Scottie from marketing called in Russel from marketing for help. And didn’t that go well? Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. Hope despite climate change denialists indefatigability
There is no doubt about climate change denialists – they keep shifting shape and keep manoeuvring to cast doubt on scientific reality – irrespective of whatever events make their arguments look ridiculous. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. Morisson has rent seekers salivating.
Australia’s pre-eminent rent seekers must be salivating at the thought that the PM might ‘evolve’ its policy on climate change and will be counting up the billions they may reap from his likely emissions ‘reductions’ schemes. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. – This is how you do it to appear genuine.
While Scott Morrison was saying it was fortunate no-one had died on Kangaroo Island and forcing people to shake his hand another PM quietly, and without seeking publicity, showed him how he should be behaving. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. The Morrison Government tries to get empathetic
The Morrison Government’s is trying a new ploy – one which is beyond even the wildest satirical imagination. It has hired an empathy consultant. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. It’s not the marketing – it’s the marketer
Scott Morrison has failed a fundamental marketing test-communicating authenticity. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. Innovation and inequality – not as simple as the tech titans make out
If you were told that an Australian politician had published a new book, backed by a solid evidence base, with a highly original take on a major problem the normal response would be to wonder if Barry Jones had a new book out. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. Australian right wing religious fury over The Economist
The Australian right wing seem to be embarking on another cultural crusade – this time against what is probably the best weekly news magazine (which the editors insist on calling a newspaper) in the world, The Economist. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. The wrong way to make political – or any – decisions
The Morrison Government’s decision-making is about to get worse – if that’s possible – as Cabinet submissions are apparently to be replaced by PowerPoint presentations. Presumably the full Cabinet submissions will be available and a few Ministers may read them but the reality is that the use of PowerPoint (PP) will discourage the rest from Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. The Earth gets its day in court
Last month the Earth got its first day in court in cases against ExxonMobil lodged in New York and Massachusetts in which it was alleged, among other things, that the company misled the public about its product. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. The political limbo rock – how low can you go?
One of the best ways to determine how history will judge a politician is not to tot up what they achieved but to try to evaluate the depths they sometimes sank to as they pursued their careers. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. The political limbo rock – how low can you go
One of the best ways to determine how history will judge a politician is not to tot up what they achieved but to try to evaluate the depths they sometimes sank to as they pursued their careers. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. The productiivity paradox solution – it’s business wot dunnit
In the age of secular stagnation – although the age’s dawn has not yet dawned on the Australian government – one of the central economic questions is: what has caused productivity growth to decline? As far back as 1987, Robert Solow, a Nobel laureate in economics, said: “You can see the computer age everywhere but Continue reading »