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- PETER GOERS. With China, many Aussies are absolute hypocrites (Sunday Mail 31.5.20)
- China is not a threat to Australia
- Australia’s pro-Israel media fights facts and ends careers
- Why Australia’s strategic situation is far worse than we think (AFR 6.7.20)
- The Coalition is just following orders
- It’s time to strip ‘national security’ of its sacred cow status. Part 1
- Moslem MP branded a terrorist. Is there a fair go?
- A win’s a win in Eden-Monaro
- China must obey international rules in the South China Sea but the US can ignore them in Diego Garcia.
- Lies and distortions about western policies in Asia: The Sino-Indian frontier dispute. Part 1 of 2
Category Archives: Politics
Drop the xenophobia and Cold War tactics – respect Shaoquett Moselmane’s rights
A healthy civil and democratic society depends on citizens’ ability to weigh up diverse views, to re-frame issues and to consider the dangers when powerful people make claims without any obvious evidence.
Posted in Politics
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Five Eyes membership threatens New Zealand’s foreign policy independence
Because of our membership of the Five Eyes, New Zealand’s ability to act independently is seriously restricted.
Posted in Defence/Security, Politics
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Saturday’s good reading and listening for the weekend
What people in other forums are saying about public policy
Media in the Asian Century
Not the cyber Pearl Harbour
China must obey international rules in the South China Sea but the US can ignore them in Diego Garcia.
China is rightly criticised for building islands for military purposes in the South China Sea whilst ignoring an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) brought by the Philippines. But what of the US in Diego Garcia?
National Cabinet fractures
There is a serious split in the national cabinet manifest in the current border wars. It has been apparent for a few weeks now but the decisions by a number of states to deny Victorians (or some of them) access … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
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Sydney as a global city down the drain?
The concept of turning Sydney into a Global City was hatched during the Olympic Games in 2000. The Liberals revived it in 2011 when they swept to power. Property developers loved it. But is the concept still viable?
Posted in Politics
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The strange case of Shaoquett Moselmane and the AFP and ASIO raid.
I was struck by these letters in the S.M.H. regarding Shaoquett Moselmane . Are we seeing a new McCarthyist wave of anti China paranoia?
Posted in Human Rights, Politics
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If the US treats China like an enemy, then it will become one. REPOST.
It is time for Australia to accept the reality of the rise of China and a resurgence of Russia.
Posted in Politics
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Neoliberalism and the corporate plunder of India (Part 2/2)
The legacy of the East India Company lives on. There is much anger in India fuelling a rise in Hindu nationalism. Dalrymple is feeling this anger.
Posted in Politics, World Affairs
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What should Australia do to manage risk in its relationship with the PRC? (China Matters 26.6.20)
The biggest challenge facing Australia’s strategic policy is to help craft a new strategic equilibrium in the Indo-Pacific. It must reflect the reality of the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) economic and strategic weight.
Posted in China Series, Politics
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Militarism and Popularism, a dangerous mix
Popularism in defence matters must have its limits. Being carried away on a wave of popularism may be exciting but when reality strikes the repercussions could be severe.
Posted in Defence/Security, Politics
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NBN Debacle. Wherefore art thou, minister?
What has been described as the country’s all-time biggest infrastructure debacle – the National Broadband Network – is a financial and technological mess.
A ‘yellow peril’ revival fuelling Western fears of China’s rise (East Asia Forum 5.6.2019) REPOST
Most Western portrayals of China’s emergence as a great power lack balance. They tend to highlight negative dimensions of China’s rise but omit the positive dimensions.
Posted in China Series, Politics
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The Prime Minister’s reform agenda for skills
Although it is good that the Prime Minister has recognised the importance of skills, missing from his reform agenda are two of the most important issues: the nature of skills and how they are taught, and the use of skills … Continue reading
The mainstream media fails on Australia’s foreign policy
Our media avoids any discussion or analysis of the literally hundreds of United States military bases that are situated in proximity to China, and similarly the hundreds of military bases aimed at “containing” Russia.
Like Banquo’s Ghost: Hugh Mahon and the Eden-Monaro by-election
The name Hugh Mahon has appeared in the news recently in connection with the Eden-Monaro by-election caused by the resignation of Labor’s Mike Kelly. Like Banquo’s ghost, Mahon’s appearance during a by-election for an opposition seat strikes fear into the … Continue reading
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Neoliberalism and corporate plunder of India (Part 1/2)
Dalrymple’s The Anarchy is about the East India Company, its strategies, artifice, grand corruption, and the consequences of unbridled corporate greed; an account acutely relevant today. Continue reading
Posted in Politics, World Affairs
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Canberra Shuffles its China Briefcase to decouple,rather than improve relations.
After more than half a year’s delay, Foreign Minister Maryse Payne has announced the appointment of a new Chair of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, Ms Pru Bennett, a senior advisor to the global strategic advisory Brunswick Group.
Posted in China Series, Politics
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Dirty Dyson demolishes his own reputation
It seems impossible that the reputation of Dyson Heydon, retired High Court judge and one-time royal commissioner, will ever recover from the trashing it got this week. Continue reading
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The Grattan Institute’s Fiscal Recovery Plan
The economy is presently receiving an unprecedented, but time-limited, level of fiscal support. The report just released by the Grattan Institute provides a very good analysis of what is now needed to sustain the economic recovery.
Pathological philanthropy in the Australia-US Alliance
With confirmed coronavirus cases in excess of two million, the number of new, confirmed cases across the country approaching 45,000 per day for most of the last ten weeks, and resultant deaths in excess of 126,000 (and climbing), the decisions … Continue reading
Posted in Politics, World Affairs
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The ABC-Out of sight, out of care
This continues yesterday’s feature on ABC Australia, our underfunded and neglected TV presentation to the Asia Pacific. Look on, ye neighbours, and despair.
Multicultural Australia in danger in resurgent pandemic. Part 2 What we know but need to know more about and why.
The national medical bureaucracy needs to make one change to its data collection about COVID-19 that will be disruptive in the short term but very productive in the medium and longer term. It may save lives, reduce morbidity, protect social … Continue reading
Posted in Human Rights, Politics, Refugees, Immigration
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Habemus Taoiseach: Ireland has a new government at last
Last Friday evening, as white smoke wafted from the chimney above Ireland’s parliament building, Leinster House in Dublin, the Ceann Comhairle (Speaker) came out onto the steps and announced to the assembled throng in Kildare Street, ‘Habemus Taoiseach’ (We have … Continue reading
Posted in Politics, World Affairs
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The Myth of Chinese Money in Australia
Fears amongst the Australian public of China buying up the country run deep. Opportunistic politicians and commentators have long shown a willingness to tap into this unease to boost their own following.
Posted in China Series, Politics
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Our dream run over COVID has come to an end
Australia awoke last week to the strains of Spike Milligan’s poignant refrain, “I’m walking backwards to Christmas.”
Posted in Politics
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Judge Dyson, moving in the lower circles of hell
If Dyson Heydon is guilty of the sexual harassment allegations made against him, most people would agree that he deserves what he gets. Continue reading
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Multicultural Australia in danger in resurgent pandemic. Part 1: The problem
A dark hole sits at the heart of multicultural Australia – the data by-pass on how the COVID19 virus pandemic is affecting our culturally diverse communities.
Posted in Human Rights, Politics, Refugees, Immigration
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West Bank annexation – ‘Another glorious chapter in the history of Zionism ’?
It is an anxious time for an unlikely combination of Benjamin Netanyahu and the publishers of world atlases and gazetteers. Will they have to pulp existing supplies because of his intentions? Or will he fail for a change and save … Continue reading
Posted in Politics, World Affairs
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