Jack Waterford

John Waterford AM, better known as Jack Waterford, is an Australian journalist and commentator.

Jack's recent articles

Dirty Dyson demolishes his own reputation

It seems impossible that the reputation of Dyson Heydon, retired High Court judge and one-time royal commissioner, will ever recover from the trashing it got last week.

Judge Dyson, moving in the lower circles of hell

If Dyson Heydon is guilty of the sexual harassment allegations made against him, most people would agree that he deserves what he gets.

Law can't hide hypocrisy, lying and double dealing

Forty years ago, Justice Anthony Mason, later Chief Justice of the High Court, made it clear that mere embarrassment -- or the avoidance of being found to be a hypocrite -- is not enough to justify the protection of the courts when the government is involved.

Justice impossible with secret trials

Over in the United States, a former national security adviser to Donald Trump, John Bolton, has a book about to hit the newsstands. It is very critical of, and indiscreet about, his former boss. It shows Trump double dealing with China, approving, not disapproving of its persecution and detention of the Uighars, and seeking China's help in securing re-election by buying soybeans and wheat.

JACK WATERFORD. Punishing the undeserving - the robo-debt fiasco

Heaven knows how the ultimate costs of the robo-debt fiasco will pan out. So far the Commonwealth has announced that it is paying back about three-quarters of a billion to nearly 400,000 people whose rights were trampled upon.

No public interest, it seems, in watching public money burn

The political cynic could easily imagine a string of reasons for ignoring calls for a royal commission or other inquiry into the robo-debt debacle.

JACK WATERFORD. Morrison has all of the flexibility in the world

No modern Australian prime minister has faced the political, economic and social challenges of Scott Morrison. But its a funny sort of crisis because no prime has ever had such access to the extra resources he can call to bear -- if he wants to.

JACK WATERFORD. The size of the COVID deficit is a political, not an economic choice

We have had an obsession with the balanced budget and with at least the aim of a reduction of government debt, at least since John Howard blew the Budget in 1983-84, then, more than a decade later, discovered a $5 billion black hole in the last Keating Budget.

JACK WATERFORD. Trump: the man who made America little again

Donald Trump, who campaigned on making America great again has presided over indeed caused an enormous fall in American prestige, moral authority and effective power in the world. It may still have, by far, the most military power, and enormous economic resources, but the practical management of the Covid-19 crisis invites only derision.

JACK WATERFORD. Shooting ourselves in the boot again

The announcement of the international inquiry to be conducted into international management of the Covid-19 pandemic did not achieve any of the particular purposes initially said to justify Australias putting its head above the parapets and attracting Chinas ire for doing so.

JACK WATERFORD. Dutton fights from the flank

The Minister for Home Affairs, Peter Dutton, was rarely to be found when the discussion was fixing on how a cruise liner entered our borders and spread Coronavirus and Covid-19 across the continent perhaps the most serious breach of quarantine and biosecurity since federation. But that reticence has not stopped a non-stop barrage of distraction.

JACK WATERFORD. Good policy comes from loud debate, not good manners

It took only a question about some fresh developments with the Sports Rorts affair for the prime minister to note, sourly, that it was back to politics as usual.

JACK WATERFORD. Digesting the cases being missed

As we cautiously begin to lift the lockdown, if we dont know who the silent carriers are, how can they play an active role in keeping the community safe?

JACK WATERFORD. Asymptomatic Covid cases will give us our next waves

As the Prime Minister and Premiers look to relax COVID-19 restrictions, we still need to be wary of the significant proportion of asymptomatic cases.

JACK WATERFORD. We intended Covid inquest idea as an insult - for no good reason

There is nothing wrong with thinking that there would be an appropriate moment for an extensive international scientific review of the arrival of the 2019 coronavirus.

JACK WATERFORD. Spies and non-combatants rehearsing war dances

It is becoming fairly obvious that there is a significant group within the Australian government that is spoiling for a major confrontation, perhaps to skirmish level with China.

JACK WATERFORD. The snares of proclaiming victory against the virus

With success beyond all expectations in the struggle to contains the coronavirus in Australia, one might imagine that the next task before the prime minister is discerning that exact moment at which it is appropriate to roll back the various forms of social distancing and quarantine so as to concentrate on rebuilding the economy.

JACK WATERFORD. Still fighting with one hand tied behind our back

Americans have so epically mismanaged the coronavirus that it is difficult to look to it for lessons. The same might be said of most of the nations of western Europe, including Britain. But the blame lies more on their politicians than on their scientists.

JACK WATERFORD. A matter of clout, and of egos

When Bret Walker is trying to find out who can be held responsible for Ruby Princess stuff-ups, he will probably look for his own team of investigators, even at the risk of tripping over others with fingers in the accountability pie.

JACK WATERFORD. Has Gladys got Peter, or Scott in the cross-hairs?

Peter Dutton has been heard usually whistling to the dogs but not much seen over recent weeks, and there have been some who have ventured to suggest that his coyness may have something to do with the Ruby Princess debacle the one, and the most important boat he failed to stop. Were I he, however, I would be thinking of coming out of retirement, and quickly.

JACK WATERFORD. Prosecution as an obstacle race

Many people who had opinions about Pells guilt or innocence will retain them despite the High Courts decision. Whether they fall on one side or another, there are several words of caution:

JACK WATERORD. A free and innocent Pell, but not a martyr to any cause

The jubilation in some quarters, and the dismay and despair in others when the High Court unanimously ordered a judgment of acquittal of Cardinal George Pell on child sexual abuse charges was entirely predictable, if only because the case has become, in spite of every effort, the symbolic battleground for Catholic Church accountability for such abuse.

JACK WATERFORD supports Pearls and Irritations

There are any number of websites by which one can keep up with the news. Some also have interesting commentary. But publish.pearlsandirritations.comis the place of choice for serious attention by experts into important public policy issues -- whether in defence and internationalaffairs, in education, immigration, health, housing, the environmentand climate change, and on social issues. Facts, context and informed opinion -- just what one wouldexpect from a forum curated by an outstanding public servant, diplomat, manager and public citizen Jack Waterford was a former editor of the Canberra Times. From John Menadue. Please make a financial...

JACK WATERFORD. Failing to mass test condemns us to repeated epidemics

Australia needs to start mass testing for Coronavirus if we want to truly get a grip on this epidemic. Otherwise, those reluctant to present to medical authorities may continue to unwittingly spread the virus.

JACK WATERFORD. The young not the old are the key to beating COVID-19

Coronavirus not only effects the elderly and cooperation on the part of the young is the key to beating COVID-19. Perhaps we need Grim Reaper ads to highlight the risk to their own.

JACK WATERFORD.- The not-so-dirty secret the COVID-19 panel wants to hide Part 2

Poor messaging and own-goals killing flu strategy

The not-so-dirty secret the Covid-19 panel wants to hide Part 1

Officials are not independent. They are more loyal to ministers than the public need for information

JACK WATERFORD.- China's formidable achievement

China deserves credit, not abuse for epidemic management

JACK WATERFORD.-COVID-19 mapping must go beyond the sick to the well

Only mass screenings will tell us about the dynamics of the disease

JACK WATERFORD.- Covid-19. The risks to us as it spreads to our region and elsewhere.

The US already has a two-tier health system: when the disease takes hold in the general population, many of its facilities will be swamped, with only the wealthy able to be sure of proper treatment.

JACK WATERFORD.-Covid-19 and the economic hospital

We are not 'fighting' the virus but staging a skilful retreat.

JACK WATERFORD. The Life and Legacy of Len Hewitt

Jack Waterford writes on the life and legacy Len Hewitt, former secretary of the Prime Minister and feared government man.

JACK WATERFORD. Morrison needs new roadmap and more humility

One miracle is all he can hope for: now he needs something new to sell to a public that sees through him.The nation needs a leader it can respect

JACK WATERFORD. Covid-19 no need to panic yet.

The risks are two-fold, First would be in neglecting an attack on the virus in our neighbourhood. The other is from an officious overreach of power by the department of Home Affairs and its armed Border Force officers.

JACK WATERFORD.The big risk is this flu taking root in our neighbourhood, such as Indonesia, East Timor or PNG

Scott Morrisons declaration of a coronavirus pandemic is premature, particularly for Australia, where the virus does not appear to have escaped quarantine and containment lines.

JACK WATERFORD. Most sex abuse occurs in the home

WHY does Peter Dutton and the Home Affairs Department need more high -tech powers when the real problem of sex abuse is in the home?

JACK WATERFORD. Sherlocks lost the plot on child sex abuse years ago.

Sundry crime bodies in the home affairs portfolio, operating in the new co-ordinated mode, are proving indefatigable in their search for extra powers to conduct cyber warfare against Australian criminals.

JACK WATERFORD. Morrison closes the books on black disadvantage gap

The annual February Closing the Gap statement by the prime minister of the day is becoming one of the major Caucasian political festivals.

JACK WATERFORD. The sports rorts will taint the Canberra air for a long time.

We need an inquiry into how public service stewards provide dubious alibis for ministers

JACK WATERFORD. TRUMP, Congress and the Australian Parliament

Donald Trump is in trouble on so many fronts now that minor set-backs of practical administration probably do not pre-occupy him much. But there was interesting case in the US District Court recently that has the potential for Australian consequences while Australian senators have a rump of independents and minor parties capable of joining with an opposition to block legislation.

JACK WATERFORD. PM is never assailed by doubt,or an urge to explain

From Scott Morrison, I would never buy a used car, or (probably) a political party. As a direct liar or dissembler, he, among politicians, is only of fair average quality.

JACK WATERFORD. Are our leaders morally fit for purpose?

Sports rorts, scandals, climate inaction and contempt for public interest show a robber mentality.

JACK WATERFORD. How rorting sporting grants became a bipartisan game.

The winner-takes-all approach to grants involves corrupt ideas of government, even if no crime occurred. It is an abuse of power

JACK WATERFORD.-Pot shots prove poor policy

Must we follow Trump down his Iranian rabbit burrow?

JACK WATERFORD.- Coalition burning up its electoral credit.

PM can't find the fitting gesture or demonstrate our solidarity with bushfire victims.

JACK WATERFORD.-Is Morrison really on the bridge?

Australia cant much influence Trump, or Hong Kong or Boris. The more reason he should be working on what he can change

JACK WATERFORD.-Even a PM needs time to chill and think

Time for detailing how conservative policies could improve the nation

JACK WATERFORD. Morrison resists the salvation temptation

Pressure to be seen to be doing something immediately about results of bad policy.

JACK WATERFORD. Chinese checkers in the great game

Active spying need not mean an invasion, or war, is imminent

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