Barb Durance

Barb's recent articles

Humanitarian visa processing – Is it who you know, rather than what you know? Part 2

Humanitarian visa processing – Is it who you know, rather than what you know? Part 2

Is this how we want our visa processing system to run?

Home Affairs and the bleak hole of humanitarian visa processing – Part 1

Home Affairs and the bleak hole of humanitarian visa processing – Part 1

There is no shortage of evidence – vulnerable women in Afghanistan are in a dire situation as the Taliban continues to advance its stance on gender apartheid.

Decommissioning rates show gas heating could be gone by 2032, but oil exec bonuses might suffer

Decommissioning rates show gas heating could be gone by 2032, but oil exec bonuses might suffer

While Peter Dutton lost the election and with it his plan to force gas exporters to reserve a portion of their gas for domestic Australian consumers, concerns around availability of gas are not going away. According to AEMO, Victoria, NSW and South Australia are on the verge of gas shortages by around 2028 to 2029.

Canada’s Asian dream after America First

Canada’s Asian dream after America First

In the six months since US President Donald Trump’s re-election, the relentless assault on core democratic principles at home and international institutions and norms has turned the world upside down and inside out for the United States, its friends, allies and adversaries.

Even in sickness, Pope Francis reached out to Gaza's Christians

Even in sickness, Pope Francis reached out to Gaza's Christians

For months, the pontiff spoke by telephone almost every night with people sheltering in a Catholic church in the battered enclave, a ritual he tried to keep up in the hospital.

Taiwan's former parliamentary speaker proposes "separate jurisdictions, one sovereignty"

Taiwan's former parliamentary speaker proposes "separate jurisdictions, one sovereignty"

Wang Jin-pyng says not to abandon the opportunity for people on both sides to jointly pursue the well-being of the Chinese nation, and respect the separate jurisdictions across the Strait. If world peace really hinges on, as many claim, what happens across the Taiwan Strait, you’ll have to bear with me for more posts on the seemingly niche subject.

To understand the rise of China examine what we have in common

To understand the rise of China examine what we have in common

One hundred years ago in China the May 4th Movement announced that Science and Socialism would save the nation. In Australia, thirteen years prior, a workers party has already taken national government for the first time in history.