Government
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Is Albanese up to the job of public service reform?
I have a terrible foreboding about public service reform under the Albanese government and am beginning to wonder whether it should set itself a simpler task and leave serious improvement to some future government more up to the job. My pick for the simpler tasks would be abolishing 1300 phone lines for Centrelink, all “customer” Continue reading »
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The Defence Strategic Review: AUKUS is the wrong submarine for Australian needs
Any new submarine for defending Australia should be built around our experience. Our needs are idiosyncratic. The Defence Strategic Review should find that Australia’s defence interests would be served only by a new submarine designed for Australia’s peculiar northern waters. If we cannot have submarines designed for our conditions, the platform should be removed from Continue reading »
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Truss misrepresentations on China
While the campaign for the UK prime ministership was more about domestic issues than foreign policy, China still made fleeting appearances. Prime Minister Liz Truss had long pushed for a more ‘hawkish’ approach to China, commenting in the past about the need for the United Kingdom to avoid ‘dependency’ on the People’s Republic. Continue reading »
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Non-believers, the timid and party rorters have got at corruption bill
Citizens who want an effective agency to weed out corruption and maladministration from Australian public life would do well to get involved in the National Anti-Corruption Commission debate. It is never going to be any better than the first model that goes through the parliament over the next few months. If history in state and Continue reading »
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War Memorial pressured into recognition of Frontier Wars
A watershed moment for Australia as the War Memorial, caught in a confluence of events, is pressured to announce its plans for recognition of Australia’s brutal Frontier Wars. Continue reading »
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The Queen is dead, the big questions aren’t
Will the Queen’s death prompt meaningful debate about Australia’s colonial past and its republican future? I fear not. Too often we do the talk much better than the walk. Continue reading »
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John Pilger’s 2014 warning about Ukraine
A silent coup has taken place in Washington and rampant militarism now rules. Continue reading »
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Britain’s opium era strategy to deal with China
THE DAOGUANG EMPEROR tasked Commissioner Lin Zexu with suppressing the opium trade bedeviling China in 1839. Lin initially tried diplomacy. Continue reading »
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The contrast between China and the US as the Covid debacle rolls on
“The U.S. represents 4% of the world’s population, 25% of global covid deaths, 23% of covid cases and 35% of all Monkeypox cases….The U.S. is a public health fiasco.” Continue reading »
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What drives the Chinese Party of China to success?
Editor’s note: Since its founding more than 100 years ago, the Communist Party of China has led the country in making remarkable achievements at home as well as contributing to global development and peace. Combining political theory and practice to make those remarkable achievements, the CPC has set a great example for the world. Three Continue reading »
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Vanguard behind the country’s achievements
The past century has witnessed the Communist Party of China leading a revolution, founding the People’s Republic and relentlessly pursuing economic development and social change for the better. The Chinese people have changed their fate, made great contributions to humankind, and are now on way to realising national rejuvenation. Continue reading »
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Learning from people who are homeless
A homeless person’s life, burdened, as it often is, by physical and mental illness, addiction, and social disadvantage, can lead us to think their life is meaningless and of no value; but we can be so wrong, they have much to teach us. Continue reading »
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Productivity Commission review ignores repressive structure of Australian school system
The Productivity Commission’s interim report on school reform has conjured up some good ideas, but it ignores the regressive structure of Australia’s school system and how it acts as an anchor on school improvement. Continue reading »
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NSW Inquiry into Trade Commissioner appointment has lessons beyond NSW
The former NSW Public Service Commissioner, Graeme Head, provided the Premier with a most carefully considered report on the processes leading to John Barilaro’s appointment as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner. Continue reading »
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Long live Democracy: We must reject Charles as “King of Australia”
The Governor-General has asked Australian citizens to be obedient to the ‘King of Australia’. Charles is not my ‘King’. I recognise the Parliament and the High Court as our highest legal authority. Let’s put the frivolity of fairy tales and princesses to one side. It’s time for an Australian Republic. Continue reading »
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The need for a social contract to create voter trust
What happened to sustainable democracy’s social contract? Continue reading »
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Royal Commission into veteran suicide
The Royal Commission (RC) into veterans’ suicide has made good progress with much worthwhile information. Yet the process is very extensive and the report does not indicate the eventual breadth of consideration. Veteran blogs have cynically dismissed it as a waste of time. But while it was no doubt a stunt by Scott Morrison, and Continue reading »
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Marketing an economic plan must appeal to the heart as much as the head
Waiting until almost the last minute to decide what to do about the tax cuts serves another political purpose. Albanese and Chalmers have done a good job of making each of the present priorities seem part of an integrated economic plan. Continue reading »
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Albanese can afford to seem firm about tax cuts
Newly elected as prime minister Anthony Albanese promised voters he would not lose a second in getting down to the tasks for which he had been elected. In the period leading up to the election, he had been criticised by followers for having a narrow agenda. But that included some big-ticket items in child-care, NDIS Continue reading »
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Do we need a Head of State?
In the Claytons monarchical system that governs Australia, the Governor General has two roles: to symbolise the nation and to ensure the Constitution is protected. The current occupant appears to do neither particularly successfully. Continue reading »
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Partisanship undermines another opportunity for APS reform
A Senate committee’s report on public service capability is not without merit, but the prospect of significant progress is hampered by political motivations. Continue reading »
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States of chaos: internal border closures a disaster during pandemic
Free movement between the states is central to the Constitution — long-term lockdowns and officious regulation will have dire consequences. Continue reading »
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Frank and fearless? The insidious politicisation of the public service
Public servants’ independence continues to be eroded by the use of consultants, closer control of communications and weakening of checks and balances. Continue reading »
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Accountability is under threat. Parliament must urgently reset the balance
This government’s contempt for accountability is unprecedented. It’s time for the nation’s legislators to exercise constitutional stewardship. Continue reading »
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Good governance in six logical and easy steps
A statement of public interest should be obligatory for major government decisions. Here’s why. Continue reading »
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Australia adrift: how to be a good society Part 2
There is no denying it. Australia is at the crossroads. If a reminder were needed, the pandemic has obliged. COVID-19 has exposed the fragility of life, the uncertainties of the future, and the shortcomings of our institutions. Continue reading »
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The democratic crisis: Whatever happened to courage, principle, commitment, accountability?
Australian democracy is under serious threat, and neither of the major parties have any vision beyond the next election. Only an active citizenry can prevent us sliding towards authoritarian or populist democracy. Continue reading »
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With US democracy under threat from within, AUKUS puts Australia in danger
With the AUKUS treaty, Australia may have hitched its fate to a nation soon to be led by people who make Trump seem competent. Britain and Australia’s democracies are under threat; America’s future is in dire peril. Continue reading »
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The quest for small government comes at a cost to good government
The Coalition preaches that small government is best. But the reality is that government is not actually smaller under the Coalition — and what voters really want and need is good government. Continue reading »
