Community
-
Gathering for Christmas
The shopping centre carpark opposite was empty. It was lunchtime Christmas Day. Most people were at home or elsewhere with loved ones. Christmas Day is different. Continue reading »
-
A 2022 Christmas reflection
I’ve just spent a week in Assisi – the home of Christmas cribs. At every turn there was a nativity scene – large and small, tasteful and kitsch, prayerful and gauche. By night, church facades were lit with truly spectacular scenes of Mary and the angel at the Annunciation and of the manger with Joseph, Continue reading »
-
A Christmas Homily
On September 16th, 1919, the already world-famous physicist, Albert Einstein, was conducting a seminar with graduate students at Princeton University in the United States. Continue reading »
-
The rub of the (very) green at the ‘Gabba
“It’s not cricket” is a term that originates from the idea of the importance of fairness. In the first cricket Test against South Africa we’ve just seen a case of alleged lack of fairness, of a kind, demonstrated at the ‘Gabba in Brisbane. Continue reading »
-
Celebrating the life of Bruce McFarlane
Humphrey McQueen started a tribute to Bruce McFarlane two years ago with the following paragraph. Continue reading »
-
True love never coerces: a meditation for Christmas 2022
Imagine if we did not need to pray for those who die today, violently and unprepared. Imagine if the United Nations members convened in deep silence and resolved to rid the planet of all weapons of mass destruction and to prevent catastrophic climate change. Imagine if the cruelty being inflicted on the people of Ukraine, Continue reading »
-
Christmas: the uncherished gift
In the irreverent Monty Python film: the Life of Brian, the crowd is listening to Jesus speaking, but because of the hubbub mishear what he says. Instead of “blessed are the peace makers“ they hear “blessed are the cheese makers“. The crowd wonders what this means; the phrase is symbolic says one, “it involves all Continue reading »
-
Jean Calder AC obituary
In a week full of politics and with a heavy focus on soccer and cricket, the ABC brought news from Gaza. News from this part of the world is usually tragic and while last week’s report was sad, it was also uplifting. Dr Jean Calder AC, an extraordinary Australian, died at Khan Younis in the Continue reading »
-
We are facing the most dangerous crisis humanity has seen
Last Tuesday, I was released on bail pending appeal in March. While my sentence is outrageous – as are the anti-democratic laws that allowed it to happen – I urge you not to lose sight of the reason I was jailed. Our way of life is under threat from the greatest, most dangerous crisis humanity Continue reading »
-
Deaths from heat waves can be prevented by community shelters
Australia has no national policy to prevent the rising death toll in heatwaves. The provision of insulated and air conditioned housing in many remote communities will take years. In the meantime heat shelters must be urgently provided. Continue reading »
-
11,000 children killed or maimed in Yemen: UN report
“Ultimately,” said the UNICEF chief, “only a sustained peace will allow families to rebuild their shattered lives and begin to plan for the future.” Continue reading »
-
Australia – the last colonial power?
It’s time to take a closer look at how the origins of Australia’s relationship with its three island territories is structured by past centuries of colonialism. Continue reading »
-
The crisis in youth justice?
If ever we need a federal government to intervene in a human rights crisis in this nation, then it is now. There are almost daily headlines about the appalling abuse of children in detention centres and the preparedness of state governments, and the Northern Territory to cynically and callously play the ‘law and order’ card Continue reading »
-
Remembering Bruce Grant: An advocate of Australian self-reliant defence capability
Bruce Grant, who died in August at the great age of 97, made an extraordinary contribution, as a writer and thinker, to Australia’s understanding of itself as a nation, and our place in the world. His richly well-lived life – with its multiple incarnations as journalist, author, university lecturer, diplomat and ministerial adviser – was Continue reading »
-
From marriage equality to the Voice
Discussion about the Voice often stresses the difficulty of passing Constitutional referenda, which require a majority of voters in a majority of states. The last successful change came in 1977 to ensure that a retiring Senator would be replaced by someone from the same party. Continue reading »
-
The War Memorial is again running away from the Frontier Wars
The Australian War Memorial has passed from then Council Chair Brendan Nelson’s 29 September announcement of a “much broader, much deeper” treatment of Australian frontier violence to today’s buzzwords of “proportionate” and “modest”. The people who welcomed what looked like a change in direction at the Memorial have the right to feel dudded. Continue reading »
-
NSW, ACT Baptists in vote to prevent celebrations of love between LGBTQIA+ people
The NSW and ACT branches of the Baptist church have narrowly passed a resolution which prevents Baptist Christians who want to show hospitality to gay and lesbian people, and allow them, what we claim for ourselves, to celebrate their love for each other in a lifelong faithful union. Continue reading »
-
Disability is not a hobby: our mutual obligation to society is paid richly and in full
Why shouldn’t my participation in the development of (disability) social policy through academic research and writing – voluntary or not – be viewed as a substantial contribution to Australia? I do not understand “mutual obligation” in the individualistic way that government and neo-liberal social policy interprets it. Continue reading »
-
Matching pay and responsibilities: are secretaries paid too much?
As the Government begins the difficult task of repairing the Australian Public Service (APS) pay and classification system, it also needs to change the membership of the Remuneration Tribunal then ask it to review secretaries’ pay having greater regard for their public sector roles and responsibilities. For too long the Tribunal has relied upon private Continue reading »
-
Housing crisis: Can a universal basic income solve homelessness?
Chalmer’s first budget critiqued; Why does Australia have a rental crisis?; and Razzhigaeva explores whether a universal basic income can help address homelessness. Read on for the latest monthly digest of articles on housing affordability and homelessness. Continue reading »
-
An open letter to Bill Gates on food, farming, and Africa
We, 50 organisations focused on food sovereignty and justice worldwide, want you to know there is no shortage of practical solutions and innovations by African farmers and organisations. We invite you to step back and learn from those on the ground. Continue reading »
-
Denying trafficking not the way to protect the Asylum system
Hannah Dickinson from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) has penned an article in this Journal that is full of distraction and denial of the massive labour trafficking scam that started in 2014-15. That approach does nothing to help genuine asylum seekers nor help the over 70,500 unsuccessful asylum seekers currently living in Australia with Continue reading »
-
For African/black working class and colonised peoples, Midterm Elections in the U.S. offer no relief from war, repression and capitalist misery
The 50-year old neo-liberal agenda explains why political choices in this country provide little change that benefits the masses of people. The recent midterm election results will not bring about an improvement in the lives of the Black working class. Continue reading »
-
Nine Network perpetuates tired, politicised, militaristic discourse on refugees
As Principal Solicitor at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, my team and I meet people seeking asylum every day. We see their suffering as they struggle to access basic rights in an intimidating and often hostile system, and we see the effect on them of vilification and exclusion in public discourse. Continue reading »
-
A harmonious future: In loving our faith, appreciating others
The number of conflicts finding a basis in religion is unfortunately long, with these conflicts bringing much suffering to our world. Continue reading »
-
(Un)common sense in the National Electricity Market grid design
In a recent (21 October) edition of Pearls and Irritations, Roger Beale suggested (amongst other things) that the Commonwealth should “seize sole control of the national electricity market” (the NEM) to bring stability to the energy transition and stop the states going their own way. Continue reading »
-
8 billionth human: Has the population bomb exploded?
Sometime in the next few weeks, human being number 8,000,000,000 will enter the world. But what sort of a world will they inherit? Continue reading »
-
Guilt and dread as floods remind us of ecological crisis
The flood crisis engulfing much of Australia reminds us of the future we face in an era of climate change. Here’s the thing; writing abstractly about something and experiencing it directly are two very different things. Or so I’ve discovered. Continue reading »
-
Sharper focus on flood education and community engagement needed
The flooding in eastern Australia over recent weeks has been serious and in some areas it has seemed never-ending. Continue reading »
-
The lucky country?
Australia is the spoilt offspring of an ultra-rich empire who gained wealth through exploitative, brutal means. Continue reading »
Top 5 most read
- The greatest propaganda campaign in human history
China is the victim of the largest and greatest propaganda… - Goodbye to Ukraine? US prepares public for defeat
The New York Times report of 8th March that ‘Intelligence… - Turning Damocles’ Sword against the people
In an unprecedented way, Australia’s government has now risked both… - Out of touch, out of date, or out of their minds?
Our foremost practitioner of the quick and deadly put-down, Paul… - China and the AUKUS submarine deal: unanswered questions
The challenge of 2045 Australia will have access to American…
