Recent articles by Michael Walker
25 July 2025
Defenders of rules-based order: not who you thought
On Tuesday, a committed group of over 1,000 activists rained on the Government’s parade, using the day of the opening of Parliament to protest Australia’s ongoing complicity in the Israeli Government’s genocidal actions in Gaza.
23 January 2025
Reimagining public housing: the transformative potential of Centrelink’s Voluntary Work Program
The current housing crisis is not an accident. It is the logical outcome of transforming homes into investment vehicles. And it has been decades in the building. The only thing unique about the present crisis is that it is now destabilising both the major political parties – in that sense the housing crisis is now a political crisis. The impending federal election campaign will no doubt reveal a raft of proposed political fixes that may or may not exacerbate the crisis.
30 August 2024
That time when Canada cancelled its nuclear submarine order
Back in 1987, when no one knew that the Cold War was just about to end, the Canadian Government signed up to build 10 nuclear-powered submarines. That submarine program lasted for all of two years before being cancelled in 1989. No nuclear Canadian sub ever even began construction, let alone getting put in the water.
1 July 2024
Australian universities’ leadership teams must cease intimidation and harassment: IPAN
The Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) denounced the decision of ANU to expel Beatrice Tucker and called on universities to disconnect their association with the military industrial complex.
22 January 2024
Push to get superannuation invested in defence is despicable
In a recent speech, the Federal Treasurer hastily bundled together three things that he felt superannuation funds ought to invest in: renewable energy, defence and housing. It was a classic ‘sandwich’ communication: bracket the unpleasant item between two that sound good.
6 September 2023
Australia should push for negotiated solution in South China Sea
We’ve all heard the ‘rules-based order’ catchphrase a lot and Australia has historically been a great supporter, championing the major international institutions at the time of their establishment.