Politics
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Saturday’s good reading and listening for the weekend
What people in other forums are saying about public policy Continue reading »
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An American culture of violence: Implications for Australia?
Gun slaughter runs rampant crosses the United States, but belief in US exceptionalism accompanied by denial that a culture of violence exists discourages diagnosis of the pandemic’s root cause. Continue reading »
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Beijing -Moscow cooperation against the provocations of the US and its allies
Let me begin by offering my warm congratulations to Messrs Hartcher and Sheridan (columnists for SMH and News Limited) and other rightwing media people around the globe. They have helped achieve what many have long thought was impossible – bringing Moscow and Beijing together in firm anti-Western cooperation. Continue reading »
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The floods are a deadly reminder of the rising threat of climate change
The flooding rains in NSW, southern Queensland, and eastern Victoria are another deadly example of worsening natural disasters made more likely by climate change. Continue reading »
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Sleaze and self interest is everywhere
Who among us, eighteen months ago, could have believed the mess this country is now in? Few can doubt Australia is at a turning point in its history. The debacle is writ large. The current Cabinet reshuffle will please absolutely nobody and utterly fail to rescue Morrison’s smashed reputation. It simply exposes the shallow pool of talent Continue reading »
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Sexual assault policies fit pattern of abuse of power
Three decades ago, Bob Hawke seized on Joh Bjeke-Petersen’s revolt against John Howard’s leadership of the Liberal Party with a campaign slogan which said of the coalition, “If you can’t govern yourselves, you can’t govern the country.” Obvious party disunity tends to have that effect. Continue reading »
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Women’s passion and anger isn’t enough to force lasting change
It is said that early in the catalogue of Morrison’s mismanagement of recent issues that some of his advisers asserted the matters that had come to the fore – alleged rape, the safety of women in parliament and in the wider world – was a “doctor’s wife” sort of issue, of intense interest only to Continue reading »
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Morrison exposes his frailties. He needs empathy training
Andrew Laming who conducted vile harassment and bullying campaigns on social media and elsewhere against several women in his electorate has been ordered to do empathy (or ‘awareness’) training. Continue reading »
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As Alaska talks showed, the US’ attitude to China and the world is outdated.
America’s approach to China is binary, deep-seated and transparently hegemonic. Washington can’t seem to see that the world has moved on. Continue reading »
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A tale of two Morrisons
There are two Morrisons who have confronted sexism in their ranks. One, David, showed leadership. The other, Scott, showed the antithesis of leadership. Continue reading »
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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. It’s very depressing. I hope they are going to be OK. Continue reading »
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Why has there been a spike in anti-asian hate? The NY Times answers their own questions
A collage of panic-inducing anti-China headlines from the New York Times and other major publications can be seen as a factor in the rise of anti-Asian hate seen in western countries. Continue reading »
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Saturday’s good reading and listening for the weekend
What people in other forums are saying about public policy Continue reading »
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Good fortune and marketing briefs can’t save Morrison from his recent fumblings
Seemingly blessed by that invaluable gift that Machiavelli called fortune, Scott Morrison has overcome significant setbacks to achieve Australia’s highest office. He overcame his dismissal as CEO of Tourism Australia, the loss of initial preselection for his seat of Cook by 82-8, to oust the pre-selected candidate on the basis of allegations against that person Continue reading »
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Addressing politicians’ and political staff behaviour
The depressing stories coming out of Parliament House reinforce the need to review the Members of Parliament (Staffing) Act and the processes for overseeing the behaviour of ministers and other MPs as well as MOPS staff. Continue reading »
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Have unions healed their racist past?
When Federation occurred in 1901 trade unions and conservative politicians were agreed on one thing – keeping Australia white. Continue reading »
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Is technology the only way to solve technology-driven misinformation?
Technology-driven misinformation has become so powerful that it is impossible to reply on individuals to sift through the ‘facts’. Is technology-driven truth detection our only way out? Continue reading »
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Pope Francis apologises for war against Iraq, but will Australia?
During his recent visit to Iraq, Pope Francis revived hopes for deep reconciliation and renewed collaboration among the ancient religious traditions of that land, but he came as a ‘penitent’ and apologised for the invasion of Iraq and the resulting despoliation over 18 years. Australia was one of the few countries to join the USA Continue reading »
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Sexual violence makes a farce of the rule of law
One should always take great care in assuming the reliability of statistics or the factual basis of arguments and prejudices promoted by the NSW Police Commissioner, Mick Fuller. But he may have made the argument for fundamental reform of sexual violence and sexual harassment laws in suggesting, defensively this week, that only a small proportion Continue reading »
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‘Harmony Day’ sweeps racism under the carpet again!
March 21 has been celebrated by Australia as Harmony Day since 1999. No other country does this. Instead, starting in 1979, every other nation observes that day as the ‘UN International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’. Continue reading »
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Marise Payne and Kurt Campbell believe their own propaganda about economic coercion by China
The Australian Government and our tame media complain continually about China’s ‘economic coercion of Australia. But the conflict with China has in many cases been provoked by Australia. The US has not looked at the facts and stumbles in blindly. Continue reading »
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Politics should be about transformational leadership
Our Prime Minister has shown he is incapable of anything other than transactional leadership. Continue reading »
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Why do Australian universities have an obsession with rankings?
Australia has the highest percentage of globally ranked universities in the world. Why? What are the implications? Continue reading »
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Sunday environmental round up, 21 March 2021
Last chance to have a say on the review of the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. Increasing temperatures are changing the climate-defining currents of the Atlantic Ocean. Forests being lost to provide wood to burn for electricity and land for agriculture. Hotchpotch of rules govern single-use plastics across Australia. Continue reading »
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On the death of PNG’s first PM, Sir Michael Somare
The death of Sir Michael Somare, first Prime Minister of PNG, has occasioned an outpouring of national grief and heartfelt obituaries for “the Father of the Nation”, “the Chief”. That he was, and remains, widely respected, even loved, across the country is beyond dispute. However, it is disturbing that the posthumous record presently being confected Continue reading »
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Vaccine Diplomacy Is Paying Off for China
Beijing Hasn’t Won the Soft-Power Stakes, but It Has an Early Lead. Continue reading »
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Despite what the media says, John Howard was not a supporter of sport
I manage a wry smile every time I see John Howards’ name mentioned as a ‘cricket tragic’ or as a supporter of sport. The Hawke Government introduced in excess of 10 pieces of legislation in the Parliament in the 1980s. The word sport had not been included in one piece of legislation that had been Continue reading »
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Do we need to remove men from power?
As the Sex Discrimination Commissioner conducts an inquiry into federal parliament’s toxic culture, it is clear that her task is to diagnose misogyny and make recommendations for its removal. The easiest way to achieve this would be to remove men from positions of power. Continue reading »
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Saturday’s good reading and listening for the weekend
What people in other forums are saying about public policy Continue reading »
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Fear and Loathing: Australian media on China and Covid-19
The way various segments of the Australian media report on China’s COVID-19 experience reflects these media’s own fears and anxieties and their political, ideological, and cultural positions. More credible media outlets in Australia have mostly framed China’s efforts in political and ideological terms. Continue reading »