Category Archives: Politics

 The culpability of Dutton and Pezzullo for the bushfire crisis.

There has been one global hegemon since WWII, a commander with enough soft and hard power to make all the rules that matter, and to enforce them.

In the Chinese political lexicon being civilized means ‘fitting in’ with the national plan, accepting the party-state’s directives and guidance, and obeying laws. This ‘harmonious society’ model, represents a collective response to uneven social development.

We’re back, with links to writings, broadcasts and happenings over the last three weeks.

Australia is now a confident, wealthy nation that has the right to expect its leaders to rise above the second rate.

It has been interesting to watch the various leadership styles on display during the bushfire crisis. In contrast to the Prime Minister’s pathetic attempts to dominate, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has displayed integrity, administrative ability and empathy. Indeed … Continue reading →

Dr Strangelove warned us of a “Doomsday Machine” that would destroy the entire planet.

Scott Morrison has failed a fundamental marketing test-communicating authenticity.

And the Herald Sun relegates bushfires to page 4 while the Courier Mail brings good news via’Onion Oricle’  Read how the Murdoch papers deny climate change and largely ignore the fires. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jan/04/the-australian-murdoch-owned-newspaper-accused-of-downplaying-bushfires-in-favour-of-picnic-races?CMP=share_btn_link

Today, there are four simultaneous and momentous crises before which modern democracies seem impotent; global warming, population growth, wealth inequality, and a dangerous geostrategic shift. This brings me to the Thodey Review.

Australia’s tragedy has brought a scandal about hard issues: Morrison separated politics from government too publicly.

Trump’s decision to order the assassination of Iranian General Soleimani is understandably dominating coverage and analysis of world affairs, completely overshadowing consideration of Kim Jong Un’s end of year statement, even though it had been somewhat anxiously awaited.

Predictably, we are seeing calls for a Royal Commission into the bushfires that have Australia in crisis mode right now – either in the genuine hope of finding answers or finding someone to blame.

Tragically, we now have a disaster serious enough to wake up almost all of us to the catastrophe that is unfolding in large parts of Australia and advertising itself to the rest of the world.

Hostage diplomacy is about as low as it gets in a system of sovereign states that supposedly adheres to the inherent principles of comity, good faith and state responsibility.

For the last three months the headlines have been dominated by bushfires, and the grim prospect is that this will continue for at least another three months to come.

Disasters are always followed by inquiries. Since 2009, there have been over 140 such inquiries across Australia, of varied types and processes of operating.

PM can’t find the fitting gesture or demonstrate our solidarity with bushfire victims.

The drought and bushfires ravaging large parts of Australia are a foretaste of the climate emergency which, after three decades of inaction by our political and corporate leaders, is locked-in for years to come.

The country clearly owes a debt of gratitude to the Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his government for their sterling leadership, their visionary approach in vastly changed and challenging circumstance and for their assurance that under their leadership all manner … Continue reading →

Scott Morrison might as well go back to Hawaii to resume his truncated secret holiday. They obviously don’t deserve him in Australia.

A SERIES of posts on this blog in the last two weeks have highlighted aspects of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that are often overlooked in discussion of the bilateral relationship. We have to get used to living with … Continue reading →

A problem recognised is half solved.The biggest single problem facing Australia today is the fact that two major political parties have taken a stranglehold on our system of representative democracy.

From September 2015, almost four years ago, Peter Hughes and I have pointed out repeatedly that Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison triggered the surge in boat arrivals from September 2011 and did not stop the boats as they claim from … Continue reading →

All the more reason amid today’s national rancour to revisit Whitman’s open embrace of the democratic ideal, his declaration that ‘every atom as belonging to me as good belongs to you’,no matter where you were born. Read the full article … Continue reading →