Politics
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Explaining the Gaza genocide: Settler colonialism in Palestine
In a settler colonial state, the indigenous population has to be physically erased because they are an ongoing reminder of the violence and injustice that occurred at the foundation of the political community. Their continuing existence constitutes a legal and political challenge to the state’s legitimacy. Continue reading »
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Amendment of the Climate Change Act will offer a future for young people
Since the industrial revolution, the health damage done to young people by fossil fuels, from the boy chimney sweeps to the household gas cooker amounts to negligence. Do we care? Continue reading »
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“Marketisation has failed”: Rebuilding the Commonwealth Employment Services
When the Howard government privatised Australia’s Employment Services system it promised more innovative, effective and efficient services. Almost 25 years later, it’s clear that the giant experiment of full privatisation has failed. And the most vulnerable Australians pay the price. Continue reading »
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Why isn’t China a Democracy?
U.S. President Joe Biden, the Western media, and American academics seek to rally Western democracies against China, allegedly the leader of the world’s authoritarian countries. They charged that China is not democratic. Is this charge true? How so? Continue reading »
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Climate, health, and the Rising Tide
“Climate activists are sometimes depicted as dangerous radicals. But the truly dangerous radicals are the countries that are increasing the production of fossil fuels. Investing in new fossil fuel infrastructure is moral and economic madness” – Antonio Guterres Continue reading »
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From Vietnam to Australia, a refugee doctor’s journey
On 23 November, a boatload of asylum seekers was dispatched to Nauru for offshore detention. They were found wandering the coast of Western Australia by Aboriginal people, three days earlier. This has been Australian policy for unauthorised boat arrivals since 2013; 10 arrivals in the past year. But there was a time when asylum seekers Continue reading »
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ABC gives selected politicians licence to spread fear – Weekly Roundup
Why the RBA Board should enjoy the break on a houseboat ride, the ABC gives selected politicians licence to spread fear, bullshit, lies and division just because they are called “the opposition”, sex and the cost of living, immigrants’ kids do better at school than Australian-born kids, cleaning up the mess of another failed privatisation. Continue reading »
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How Western allies subvert international law and norms to ‘contain’ China
The US has been ruthlessly militarising what some Pentagon strategists have called the island chains of defence in the Indo-Pacific with quiet ‘Five Eyes’ help. Continue reading »
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Climate change terror: Dubai’s COP-out denial conference
The issue, betrayed, is nothing more and nothing less than the future of a multitude of species on Earth, including Homo sapiens. Continue reading »
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Australia has abandoned international law
Two months have passed since the events of October 7. Publicly, Australia has done nothing except perhaps indicate that it desires a two-state solution, and expects Israel to only take action which has regard to the need to protect civilians. Is this enough? The answer is no. Continue reading »
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A different kind of climate movement: the Kaldor Centre Principles on Climate Mobility
Every second, someone is displaced by a disaster. Each year, nearly three times as many people are displaced within their own countries by disasters than by conflict – the vast majority in the Asia-Pacific region. Climate change will amplify the problem as worsening cyclones, floods, bushfires, droughts and food insecurity force millions from their homes. Continue reading »
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The unflinching cruelty of Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger’s death has brought a flow of predictable judgements: ‘He created some evils – 1973 Chile, for example. But overall he helped end the Cold War.’ And as a beneficiary – the 1971 opening to China, for example – Australians should be grateful. Continue reading »
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The ALP and NZ’s U-turn on Indigenous affairs
The Voice referendum dominated the national discourse for much of this year. The result was a major setback for the government. Continue reading »
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‘Apocalyptic’ horror in Gaza called ‘total failure of our shared humanity’
“How is it that these atrocities are beamed across the world for all to witness, and yet so little is done to stop them?” Continue reading »
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The official story of October seventh
The official story is that on October 7, 2023, thousands of evil Hamas terrorists broke out of their walled-in enclave and killed approximately 1,200 Israelis for no reason other than because they were evil and wanted to kill Jews. Nothing was done by the Israeli government to provoke this attack, and nothing of any relevance Continue reading »
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China, US offer different approaches to achieving lasting peace in Middle East
In the aftermath of the Suez Crisis of 1956, the United States replaced Britain and France as the sole hegemon in the Middle East. The Middle East has never achieved lasting peace under US hegemony; and years of war and devastation have plunged many Middle Eastern countries into great economic difficulties. Continue reading »
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Australians need to know what lies beneath the new era of US-Australia strategic cooperation
Euphemistically, the Prime Minister recently announced that he and President Biden have “inaugurated a new era of US-Australia strategic cooperation”. Presumably he meant to say he’d found new ways to surrender Australia’s sovereignty. Continue reading »
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UNCOP28 at a time of international stress and vivid suffering
At UNCOP28, clear-eyed, we persist. And not without hope. There is a saying; ‘Pessimism of the intellect; optimism of the will.’ The time to have an influence comes and goes. Like life itself… Therefore it is best to live by the highest one can conceive when one has the opportunity! Continue reading »
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“Singing from the Songsheet”: Media uncritically parrots ASPI’s anti-China propaganda
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) have once again proven they should be re-named the American Strategic Policy Institute. They have produced a new report based on errors, misunderstandings, speculation and offered no proof whatsoever to make China, and people who support China, look bad; all while being funded by the US State Department. At Continue reading »
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Should Jim Chalmers adopt MMT to offer Swedish services with Swiss taxes?
Alan Kohler has written a thought-provoking piece suggesting Japan’s embrace of modern monetary theory (MMT) since 2001 might be the model for Treasurer Jim Chalmers meeting future social needs without raising taxes. MTT involves a central bank funding its government’s annual deficits and build-up of debt by printing digital money. Continue reading »
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Will the Productivity Commission wind back the WA GST deal?
Danielle Wood’s appointment as the Chair of the Productivity Commission is, in my opinion, an inspired choice, and I have no doubt that she will do an outstanding job, as she has done as CEO of the Grattan Institute. Continue reading »
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Henry Kissinger – the Caligari of the American Empire?
Bloody subverter of world peace, or its champion? Since his death on 29 November 2023, Henry Kissinger has been excoriated and praised in almost equal measure. His critics are more focused and vehement. Continue reading »
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As you read this, physicians are amputating childrens’ hands, arms and legs without anaesthesia
Doctors without Borders (the French volunteer organisation Médecins Sans Frontières [MSF]) has written a poignant letter to the United Nations Security Council imploring for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as hospitals are turned into “Morgues”. Continue reading »
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There’s nothing you can say to make me accept the murder of thousands of children
I promise there is nothing you can say to me that will cause me to cease opposing the murder of thousands of children in Gaza. There is no name you can call me, no accusation you can scream at me, no talking point you can regurgitate at me that will ever make me shut up Continue reading »
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The Paris Agreement is dead. Australia must change its strategic priorities
As COP28 flounders, the Paris Agreement is dead, and the imperative for emergency action has never been greater. This demands a fundamental change to Australia’s strategic priorities. Continue reading »
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The Elders call for urgent review of foreign military assistance to Israel over Gaza atrocities
The Elders today call for governments providing military assistance to Israel to review their approach, and set conditions for any future provision. They warn that Israel’s renewed military campaign in Gaza risks fuelling an escalating cycle of mass atrocities. Continue reading »
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Solving the Israel-Palestine conflict – and why it won’t happen
At the very core of the Israel-Palestine conflict are Israel’s illegal occupation of the West Bank and immoral siege – with the help of Egypt – of Gaza. Continue reading »
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Vassal’s privilege: Exmouth and Australia’s role in US space imperialism
The AUKUS arrangements between the United States, United Kingdom and Australia envisage the transfer of nuclear-propulsion technology and nuclear-powered submarines to the Royal Australian Navy – what policy wonks call the First Pillar. This does little to advance Canberra’s security but does much to confirm that Washington is keen to keep other powers in the Continue reading »
