John Menadue

John Menadue is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Pearls and Irritations. He was formerly Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet under Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser, Ambassador to Japan, Secretary of the Department of Immigration and CEO of Qantas.

John's recent articles

MARK CROSYBY. Trick question: whos the better economic manager? (The Conversation)

In 1995 I co-authored a paper with Diane Brown and Louise Malady which examined economic outcomes under Labor and Liberal governments in Australia to that time.

BELINDA KINKEAD. Australia's Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Australia is experiencing a remarkable renewable energy transition not that you would know if you listen to some federal politicians. The Coalition consistently tells us that Australias greenhouse gas emissions are coming down and that were on track to meet our Paris climate targets at a canter. In reality, neither of those statements is true.

THOMAS FRIEDMAN. Has Our Luck Run Out? (New York Times)

Most crucial problems today are global in nature and can be dealt with only by a global coalition.

GRAHAM FREUDENBERG. Vale Evan Williams

arts,  media

No Australian adorned the professions of politics and journalism like Evan Williams. He was much more than a beautiful writer. He was a beautiful man, who brought a shining light and grace to thousands of lives. He died a few days ago.

JOHN MENADUE. The communist threat curbed capitalist greed, but no longer

Five years ago in this blog I warned about growing inequality.With the communist threat gone we have seen again greed coming back into full play around the world. We have seen it here in the greed and anti social behaviour of our banks and massive tax avoidance by large multinational companies in co-operation with our major audit and accounting firms.Paying tax has become optional for many powerful people and companies.Our largely American owned print media is promoting this dangerous lurch to the right. Conservative political parties have turned a blind eye to this more aggressive attack on fellow citizens and...

JAMES ONEILL. There are Nutters and then there are Nutters

In interview given to Australias ABC network former Prime Minister Paul Keating referred to the Australian intelligence agencies as nutters. The comment was in the context of the advice that those intelligence agencies were giving the government on relations with China, Australias most important economic partner by a considerable margin.

BRIAN COYNE. The great fallacy of our neoliberal affluent times

Brian Coyne offers this addendum to what he wrote in response to Richard Cooke's searing analysis of Rupert Murdoch and his publishing empire. It might be a difficult-to-appreciate observation for many in our world today:

JOHN MENADUE. An ancient or modern Liberal.

This poster appeared in the Wentworth electorate yesterday. Very pertinent! John Menadue

ROD TIFFEN. These News Corp newspapers are first and foremost propaganda sheets.

It takes rare genius to provoke Scott Morrison and Andrew Bolt to express sympathy for Bill Shorten, but the Daily Telegraph managed it.

JOHN MENADUE. A Repost: The facts on boat arrivals that the media wont face.

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 December 2013 when Operation Sovereign Borders commenced.

PHILIP GIRALDI. Pompeo Lies, Cheats and Steals (But Hes Still a Good Christian) (American Herald Tribune 4.5.2019)

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently recounted to an audience at Texas A&M University that when he was head of the Central Intelligence Agency he was responsible for lying, cheating and stealing to benefit the United States. Like we had entire training courses. It reminds you of the glory of the American experiment.

J.A. DICK My Religion, Your Religion, Our God

Theological understandings change over time. My own theological understanding of world religions has been greatly influenced by the Second Vatican Councils Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions. It was issued on October 28, 1965, shortly after my arrival as a younger man and a theology student in at the University of Louvain/Leuven.

MICHAEL SLEZAK. Climate change a bigger threat to Australia's interests than terrorism, Lowy Institute poll suggests (ABC 8.5.2019)

Climate change is a critical threat to Australia's interests according to almost two-thirds of Australians ranked as a more serious concern than international terrorism, North Korea's nuclear program or cyber attacks from other countries.

Scott Morrison is not an 'accidental' Prime Minister. 'He was in it right up to his neck' in the overthrow of Malcolm Turnbull(Peter Hartcher, SMH 26.3.2019)

The first vote of the week, on August 21,was a two man contest between Turnbull and Dutton. Morrison was not in the contest. His numbers men organised for five Morrison supporters to vote for Dutton in the first spill ballot. It was a ruse-those five votes were not aiming to instal Dutton as leader. They were 'parked 'temporarily as votes for Dutton in a bid to slam Turnbull. Then, when Turnbull's position became hopeless, the way would be open for Morrison to enter the contest. The five would then switch to Morrison. It worked.. Joyce told Turnbull. 'But Morrison...

TONY KOCH. For 30 years I worked for News Corp papers. Now all I see is shameful bias. (THE GUARDIAN 9.5.2019)

No editor I worked for would publish the rubbish they now produce. About six weeks ago I cancelled my subscription for The Australian newspaper after getting it for more than 30 years. As soon as this election is over, I will do the same with the Courier-Mail.

ELIZABETH SAVAGE. It's hard to find out who Labor's dividend imputation policy will hit, but it is possible, and it isn't the poor. (The Conversation 8.5.2019)

Labors proposal to end cash refunds of unused dividend imputation credits is highly targeted.

JOHN MENADUE. News Corp a rogue organisation (Repost from 21 September 2018)

Rupert Murdoch's form in abusing power and finding truth hard to handle continues. 'Turnbull has to go' is typical behaviour for a man who has done more to damage democracy than any living media person . I worked with Rupert Murdoch for seven years in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I was General Manager of his Sydney operations. It was then exciting working for him.He derided the stuffy old guard establishment . He was open to new ideas and opportunities. Then it all steadily went down hill. Ending his days in the embrace of the extreme right...

ANDREW EDGECLIFFE-JOHNSON, LINDSAY FORTADO, JAMES FONTANELLA-KHAN. Elite gathering reveals anxiety over growing inequality. Financial Times 2.5.2019)

Throughout centuries what weve seen when the masses think the elites have too much, one of two things happens: legislation to redistribute the wealth...or revolution to redistribute poverty. Those are the two choices historically and debating it back and forth, saying no, its capitalism; no, its socialism is what creates revolution. (Alan Schwartz)

PATRICK WOOD. Federal election 2019: Could these 15 ideas restore faith in politics? (ABC News)

Should Australia have fixed parliamentary terms? Or real-time disclosure of political donations? How about a citizen jury that can decide on issues of national importance?

STEPHEN M WALT. America Isnt as Powerful as It Thinks It Is (Foreign Policy)

The era of unilateralism is overand Washington is the last to realize it.

VACY VLAZNA. The ABC is USA/Israels mouthpiece on Gaza

The ABC yet again, obediently, is cranking out Israeli propaganda on Sunday's Israeli assault on the besieged Palestinians in Gaza parroting that Israeli is merely protecting its citizens against Hamas 'militants'- rather than the truth that Hamasresistance is protecting Palestinian families from Israeli belligerence and Israels 12 year illegal siege.

It is no surprise that News Corp is even less and less trusted

American owned News Corp Australia is the least trusted media company in the country and is a cellar-dweller in the Reputation Index of Australian companies. Its behaviour in this election will ensure that it is even less trusted. Murdoch rewards generously employees who are tame and loyal. But how can self-respecting journalists, and particularly senior journalists, continue to take his coin?

CHRIS TURNEY. UK becomes first country to declare a climate emergency. Why not Australia?

Last Wednesday night a bipartisan UK Parliament passed an extraordinary measure: a national declaration of an Environment and Climate Emergency. The UK is the first national government to declare such an emergency. The decision marks a renewed sense of urgency in tackling climate change, following a visit to Parliament by teenage activist Greta Thunberg , the broadcast of David Attenboroughs documentary Climate Change: The Facts and 11 days of protest by environmental group Extinction Rebellion that paralysed parts of London. With 70% of Australian media run by a climate sceptic it is not surprising that this major story...

MICHELLE PINI. The Morrison Government's strange bedfellows (Independent Australia)

This week, the Coalition finally admitted what many had already suspected: preference deals with Pauline Hansons One Nation (PHON) and Clive Palmers United Australia Party (UAP).

JOHN FITZGERALD. In response to Bob Carr on China.

Professor Bob Carr singled me and a few others out for criticism on the Menadue blog. Fair cop. Along the way however he made demonstrably false claims about my stance on China and Chinese Australians which have since been reproduced on official sites of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and on 30 April in Beijings premier international propaganda journal, The China Daily. This is going a bit far. I respectfully ask that my corrections are published in all three places.

JOHN DUGARD. Why aren't Europeans calling Israel an apartheid state? (Al Jazeera, 18.04.19)

Israel's apartheid is not that different from the one South Africa used to have, both in terms of policy and brutality.

ALAN PEARS. The cost of Labors Paris Climate Change Policies

Economic modelling is one of many tools for policy development. It is often taken out of context and misused. The present debate over the cost of Labors climate policy provides an example. Lack of context, modelling assumptions and selective use of modelling results risks distorting future climate and energy policy, with serious consequences.

RICHARD DAY Pharmacy Guild Out Muscles Government Again

Most medicines on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS) are for chronic, conditions that affect one in two Australians and include conditions such as hypertension, raised cholesterol and type II diabetes. Treatment invariably involves medications, often multiple, adding significant costs to other barriers to obtaining adequate health care, notably for the elderly with multiple health conditions. Fronting up to the pharmacy every month to pick-up repeats and paying a co-payment (up to $6.50 for concessional patients and up to $40.30 for general patients) and a dispensing fee (if a non-concessional patient) might seem more than necessary, especially if there is...

RICHARD FLANNAGAN. I'm willing to go to jail to stop Adani and save our beloved country. Will you stand with me? (The Conversation)

In this anti-Adani rally speech, novelist Richard Flanagan says the fight against the Carmichael coalmine defines the fight against the climate crisis

DAVID WROE AND DANA McCAULEY. Sack 'nutter' spy chiefs to fix relations with Beijing, Paul Keating urges (SMH 6.5.2019)

Former prime minister Paul Keating has launched an extraordinary attack on Australias spy chiefs, calling them nutters and urging Bill Shorten to sack them to improve relations with China if he wins the election.

DAUD BATCHELOR. Sacrificing national interest in Australian Embassy move

In todays geopolitics, Australia must balance relations with its largest trading partner China and key defence ally, the United States, at a time of spirited jousting. Maintaining good relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations also becomes essential with expanding Chinese power. Significantly, ASEAN has a dominant 67% majority Muslim population.

KATE McDOWELL. Together or not in the performing arts.

The way the performing arts is funded in Australia hasnt changed since the 1990s, but the Australian cultural landscape has changed dramatically.

MARK SWIVEL. Why is no-one talking about non voters?

Australia is famous the world over for our compulsory voting system. We are one of a handful of countries that require our citizens to vote. Technically we only require voters to turn up and get their name marked off the roll, but compulsory Roll Call doesnt sound as good as Compulsory Voting. Maybe we should extend the vote to teenagers on their Ls and Ps. Either way voting is a right, a privilege and for me, a dead set obligation we should all embrace.

MIKE KELLY. Spirituality and religion

Spirituality is important to me but I don't like organised religion. The social, psychological and historical forces that underlie this juxtaposition cannot be traced here; but it is still possible to suggest that it fails to notice (or at least to give due weight to) several important facts. A sick body has to be healed,not abandoned.

MARJORIE COHN. Human rights and global wrongs in Venezuela,Cuba and Nicaragua.

Under the guise of protecting human rights, the Trump administration is illegally meddling in three countries it hasdubbedthe troika of tyranny Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua. National Security Adviser John Bolton claimed, Miami is home to countless Americans, who fled the prisons and death squads of the Castro regime in Cuba, the murderous dictatorships of Chavez and Maduro in Venezuela, and the horrific violence of the 1980s and today under the brutal reign of the Ortegas in Nicaragua.But the U.S. governmentshuman rights recorddoesnt compare favorably to Cubas. And the Trump administration, which ignores notorious human rights violators like Saudi Arabia,...

MARTIN WOLF. The politics of hope against that of fear (Financial Times 1.5.2019)

Charismatic politicians entice disillusioned people into giving them support. Some of those politicians are would-be despots. Others are scoundrels. Yet their siren songs are enticing.

BERNARD KEANE. The media has failed spectacularly on climate change (Crikey)

The media's coverage of climate change in the election campaign has reflected the Coalition's long-term strategy of denialism, rather than a desire for genuine scrutiny.

DAVID LEITCH. We crunch the numbers and find costs of Labor's emissions target are not that big. RenewEconomy May 3 2019

ITK has looked at Labors emissions reduction target the 45% cut from 2005 levels by 2030 and we estimate the community wide costs to be less than $2 billion per year, as summarized in Figure 1.

David Pope's view: We shall fight them on what's left of the beaches (Canberra Times 3.5.2019)

In her 'gotcha' style of questioning Leigh Sales on ABC challenged Bill Shorten about the cost of his climate change policies. People with any real knowledge of the subject know there is no simple answer. What is clear is that we face an existential threat to our planet.David Pope in the Canberra Times pointed to the nonsense of questioning by Leigh Sales and the Murdoch media on irrelevant detail - all in the name of so called 'balance'.The main steam media is failing us dismally on climate change.(John Menadue)

JACK DE GROOT. The hidden cost of low rent housing

Although just paying the rent is enough of a challenge for most low-income households - as Anglicares latest Rental Affordability Snapshot demonstrates - their housing affordability challenge is further impacted by the cost of energy and transport. For them, it obviously forms a much higher proportion of their take-home pay and therefore puts housing affordability even further out of reach. An increased supply of social and affordable housing is an essential part of the solution, as too are more energy efficiency and public transport solutions.

RAY MOYNIHAN, PAUL GLASZIOU. We need new rules for defining who is sick. Step 1: remove vested interests (The Conversation)

Did you know the definition of high blood pressure (hypertension) in the United States was recently greatly expanded? Overnight, tens of millions of people were reclassified, leaving one in every two adults with a diagnosis of hypertension. The move has been welcomed by some but also widely criticised, amid concerns the expanded definition may bring more harm than good to many people, from unnecessary illness labels and unneeded drugs.

RICHARD COOKE. News Corp: Democracys greatest threat. (The Monthly. May 2019)

Denialism, nihilism and the Murdoch propaganda machine The slim, match-fit form ofThe Daily Telegraph columnist Piers Akerman, resplendent in a blue Tony Abbott T-shirt, and standing next to the former prime minister, was not supposed to be there. Not supposed to be in the photo, that is. It was Abbott who posted the picture to social media, accidentally revealing his mate on the hustings.

STEPHANIE LORENZO. Uncovering the Gender Inequality in my Church.

If the power structures of the Catholic Church remain unquestioned and unchallenged by the unknowing conformity of the masses, maybe we are complicit in its scandals.

AMY ZEGART AND MICHAEL MORELL. Spies, Lies, and Algorithms. Why U.S. Intelligence Agencies Must Adapt or Fail. (Foreign Affairs 20.4.2019)

For U.S. intelligence agencies, the twenty-first century began with a shock, when 19 al Qaeda operatives hijacked four planes and perpetrated the deadliest attack ever on U.S. soil. In the wake of the attack, the intelligence community mobilized with one overriding goal: preventing another 9/11. The CIA, the National Security Agency, and the 15 other components of the U.S. intelligence community restructured, reformed, and retooled. Congress appropriated billions of dollars to support the transformation.

JEFF KINGSTON. Filling the post-Heisei void (East Asia Forum)

Emperor Akihito is a tough act to follow. He is known as the peoples emperor because he brought the monarchy closer to the people by sharing the pain of those displaced by disaster and advocating on behalf of the vulnerable and marginalised. This included people suffering from Hansens disease as well as the mentally and physically handicapped. His reign contrasted that of Emperor Showa (Hirohito) who was aloof and awkward in fulfilling his public duties in post-war Japan.

GRAHAM ENGLISH. Virtue signallers, the left wing, and the politically correct

I try to follow the advice of one of my old teachers that if you cannot write as well as Jane Austen or one of the greats you can at least aim to be intelligible. Avoiding clichs and popular catch phrases is always a good start.

VACY VLAZNA. The Sarafand Massacre and Anzac Cover-up, Part 2

Cover-ups are a reprehensible part and parcel of military history and testimonies collected on Australian Military History of the Early 20th Century: Desert Column siteare tainted with fundamental lies and racist justifications that have become the prototype for subsequent historical and newspaper accounts of the Sarafand Massacre.

RICHARD BARCHAM. Not Sorry.

Speech that dehumanises marks the limit of what a tolerant society can accept.

AVI SHLAIM. Benjamin Netanyahu and the death of the Zionist dream.

Israel's founding fathers are turning in their graves.

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