
William De Maria
Dr William De Maria is a Brisbane based writer and political commentator.
William's recent articles

2 October 2021
Minister for Attack: Can anything stop Peter Dutton?
Defence Minister Peter Dutton is running a hard line towards China. But he's not unstoppable. A federal election is coming up and the voters of Dickson could very well vote him out.
21 April 2021
Ive got the Anzac Day Blues
Australia has never been the maker of its own history. So said the legendry Manning Clark, who spent a life mapping the heart of our nation. From the utterly worthless Sudan campaign of 1885 to the atrocity-ridden Afghanistan War of 2001-2013, our people have been made to wade through blood in foreign lands to satisfy feckless sycophantic leadership at home and unfathomable geo-political intrigues festering far away.
20 April 2021
The Australian War Memorial avoids the central issue: Why did we fight so many immoral, corrupt and failed wars?
Meet Gustav, the German messenger dog. Running through the deadly orange mist of mustard gas to deliver a message to trenched in German soldiers. Yes, the gas mask is very interesting. It is just one of countless items on display at the Australian War Memorial. The collection is world class I might add because it does a very good job telling us how we fought. It does a bad job in explaining why we fought.

13 April 2021
Is Ben Roberts-Smith the Biggest Anzac Story since Gallipoli?
When Brendan (Biggles) Nelson, AWM Director at the time, heard about the early allegations againt Robert-Smith and other soldiers, he fumed: Where is the national interest in tearing down our heroes? It's my very strong view that the alleged controversies involving special forces, unless involving the most egregious breaches of the laws of armed combat, should be left alone. What these young, highly skilled and trained men have done repeatedly over the past 15 years in intense combat is something that is rightly the pride of our nation.
28 March 2021
Richard Boyle: The overtaxed whitstleblower
It's hard to believe this email started a war.
27 March 2021
Cry me a scandal: Tear storms and showers of deceit in the Canberra Bubble
Linda Reynolds, the Defence Minister, is crying. Christian Porter, the Attorney-General, is crying. Holidays Morrison is bubbling away. Its very depressing. I hope they are going to be OK.
17 March 2021
OECD Chief Mathias Cormann: a lose-lose for Australia and Europe
Pictures stick in your head dont they. The tongue kiss Soviet President Brezhnev gave East German President Eric Honecker in 1979 is one. That photo of Scotty (Holidays) Morrison and now deposed clown-king Donald Trump getting close on the White House lawn is another. Smiling, whispering, foreheads touching, a speck of dribble on the corner of Trumps mouth.

16 March 2021
Afghanistan warcrimes: best we forget
The council of the Australian War Memorial, including Tony Abbott and Kerry Stokes, have doubled down on their support of alleged Australian war-criminals and transformed the Memorial from a solemn veneration of Australia's war dead into a protection racket.
10 March 2021
Techno pickpockets: Crown bathes in misery created by toxic gambling culture
A significant proportion of Crown's profits come from its world class electronic gaming machines (pokies) that deploy sophisticated psychological principles to maximise bet sizes and machine usage. About 75% of people experiencing gambling problems report pokies as the main source. An inquiry into the misery caused by gambling addiction is well overdue.
9 March 2021
James Packer and the dispossession of Barangaroo
There seems little difference between the NSW Government kicking out public housing tenants from Millers Point and the Rocks in the vicinity of the planned Crown casino and the ruthless clearance and demolition of Palestinian villages to make way for Israeli settlements.
3 March 2021
Brendan Nelson's Gold Brick Road. Part 3
Former Defence Minister Brendan Nelsons troubling hook-up with Boeing Defence.
28 February 2021
Julie Bishop's travels along the Gold Brick Road. Part 2
In this second of a three-part examination of the employment of former senior Coalition ministers, we investigate former Foreign Minister Julie (Duchess) Bishops post-politics employment with the international aid group Palladium.
23 February 2021
Helen Coonan saw no evil and heard no evil over nine long years
For more than nine years, Helen Coonan has been a non-executive director of Crown. More than enough time to get wise about this criminal organisation, one would have thought.
21 February 2021
The new normal: the former ministers racing down the Gold Brick Road (Part 1)
This is a three-part look at the afterlife of former Commonwealth ministers of the Crown. Because of space limitations, the inquiry focuses on the notorious post-politics employment of two defence ministers, Christopher Pyne and Brendan Nelson, and one foreign minister, Julie Bishop.
8 February 2021
Mr Murdoch goes to Hell
Even the Devil was impressed with the level of hypocrisy on display on the sin sheet of News Corp's executive chairman.
3 February 2021
Searching for Scotty: using the Bible to show that capitalism has Gods seal of approval - Part 2
Scott Morrison serves two masters: his God, as a Pentecostal believer; and his people, as a democratically elected leader. And as Ecclesiastics says: Work hard, enjoy the fruits of your labour and do not be ashamed of your wealth.
31 January 2021
Who is Scotty Morrison, master of the dark art of linguistic deception? Part 1
Humpty Dumpty: When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean neither more nor less. Alice: The question is whether you can make words mean so many different things. Humpty Dumpty: The question is which is to be master thats all. Lewis Carroll,Through the Looking Glass.
28 January 2021
Scotty ('Holidays') Morrison and <i>that</i> affair with Donald
It was the sign that got me in. Little Johnny & the Trumpettes, here tonight. I have been following this nostalgia band of old, once powerful white men as they slowly gig their way through the RSL club network of country New South Wales.
18 January 2021
Latest hits from His Masters Voice - Little Johnny and the Trumpettes
While our parliament houses will not be stormed any time soon, Sky News is still around, as is Rupert Murdoch, Trumps great backer, and The Australian. So, too, are George, Pauline and Craig.
10 January 2021
Most viewed posts 2020: Private Schools: Blessed are the rich (Oct 14, 2020)
Last year Shores income was $87.54 million. It is a rich school for kids of rich parents. It is also a charity. Yes, just like Habitat Australia, in Mount Street, North Sydney, just down the road from the school, Shore is a registered charity.
10 December 2020
And the third Khaki Shultzie goes to...
Recently the Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, won the inaugural Khaki Shulztie. The award is named after Sergeant Shultz (I know nuuuthing!) from the TV show Hogans Heroes. The award recognised General Campbells ignorance about Afghanistan in the face of overwhelming information that was or could have been at his disposal.
25 November 2020
Lieutenant-General Burr, can you stand up. We cant see you!
In Burr's regiment were many of Justice Breretons bad boys. That so many of them were able to mask their incubating psychopathology reflects badly on the psychological assessment tools Burrs people were administering.
17 November 2020
George Orwell, are you listening? Truth warping about Afghanistan war crimes
We are being asked to believe that a cosy coterie of retired public servants and academics are going to drive Army change and make things all wonderfully transparent for us. What rubbish. Where do I get my tickets for that show?
3 November 2020
The Afghan Homilies of Saint Peter Cosgrove
Who is one of the most admired public figures in Australia today? John Howard, Tony Abbott? No. To pursue that line would make this into a comedy piece. It's Peter Cosgrove.
2 November 2020
Shoot to thrill: the night operation to Shina village
Friday morning in Brisbane. Everything seems normal expect for that gleaming black Toyota Crew Van brooding across the street. Before time allows a second look, BAM!! Members of the Queensland Police Services Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) burst like shrapnel from the back of the unit.
14 October 2020
Bowling Tips from John Howard
Former Prime Minister John Howard loved cricket as much as he loved war-making. Problem was he was terrible at the former and successful at the latter.
13 October 2020
Private Schools: Blessed are the rich
Last year Shores income was $87.54 million. It is a rich school for kids of rich parents. It is also a charity. Yes, just like Habitat Australia, in Mount Street, North Sydney, just down the road from the school, Shore is a registered charity.
10 October 2020
Charity regulator is failing us.
Charity scams are on a rocket trajectory. Since 2019 they have risen by a massive 70%. There have been more than 1000 charity scam reports since the beginning of this year.
6 October 2020
Julia Gillard and those Military Funerals
While sitting in on 24 soldier funerals did Gillard ask herself the same question, in substance, is it worth it?. No doubt each time she would have given herself the same answer yes.
1 October 2020
War crimes in Afghanistan: where will justice fall?
One year out from the 20th anniversary of the start of the Australian occupation of Afghanistan, a report is about to explode like a cluster bomb, showering shrapnel of guilt, denial, blame and even deep sorrow.
17 September 2020
A Tale of Two Prosthetic Legs: Panel Beating History at the Australian War Memorial
Visitors to the Afghanistan: The Australian Story exhibition are offered a theme park experience. Symbols, slogans, and sensations. Hop on an emotional rollercoaster and spin round corners to vicariously witness an ambush.
16 September 2020
Sipping champagne with the arms dealers
The Australian War Memorial is mutating from the keeper of the flame to the hider of the shame.