Politics
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The politics of the coming generation.
ANU’s 2019 Australian Electoral Survey showed that among young people in Australia today there is “evidence of a growing divide between the voting behaviour of younger and older generations”. Continue reading »
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Sunday environmental round up, 2 August 2020
Sombre statistics about the murder of environmental activists but better news about the economic as well as environmental and human benefits of protecting large areas of land and sea. Ongoing coal consumption may incinerate the Paris Agreement targets but that doesn’t won’t stop Australia exporting it as long as possible, even if Australia itself is Continue reading »
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Rio Tinto: ditch the colonial baggage and get with a 21st-century program (MWM July 31, 2020)
Rio Tinto has just announced an astronomical profit, largely on the back of its continued exploitation of Indigenous land in WA. Yet Rio still does not have an Indigenous Australian in a senior executive role. To maintain its social licence the company must also move its headquarters to Australia and up its royalties, writes Stephen Mayne. Continue reading »
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Been there, done that – Thatcherism and Reaganomics revisited
The Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, has announced the government recovery strategy – emulate Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. The problem is that Australia has been there and done that with the same very mixed results Reagan and Thatcher achieved. Continue reading »
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Malaysia: What’s Next with conviction of Najib Razak
After years of investigative exposés and legal wrangling, former Prime Minister Najib Razak was found guilty last Tuesday 28 July of serious crimes related to the 1MDB financial scandal. Continue reading »
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The mystery of the Top End’s vanishing wildlife, and the unexpected culprits (The Conversation, July 29 2020)
Only a few decades ago, encountering a bandicoot or quoll around your campsite in the evening was a common and delightful experience across the Top End. Sadly, our campsites are now far less lively. Continue reading »
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Chinese hackers or spies
Are the US Justice Department’s alleged hackers Li Xiaoyu and Dong Jiazhi Chinese spies or merely run-of-the-mill criminals? Continue reading »
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America’s drive to war with Australia as a willing participant.
The world has moved a step closer to war. US secretary of state Mike Pompeo’s latest outrageous speech has signalled a change of policy and Australia has once again willingly agreed to aid and abet the USA in its provocative and dangerous actions. Continue reading »
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Defusing the Population Bomb: a Response to Paul Collins
Paul Collins’s alarm about the environmental challenges facing the planet leads him to overlook the refugee issue I wrote about (“Prospects for Refugees and Migrants if Population Bomb goes Bust”, 23/7/2020), and line me up with all those he opposes: who think the world needs more people, or “more of the same” economic growth, or 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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When the war on terror turns inward
We now have evidence of a campaign conducted in Australia to attack the credibility and the reputation of individuals and organisations seen as being too close to China. Continue reading »
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Payne sensibly says no to Pompeo’s coalition of the willing (AFR 29 July, 2020)
Australia has avoided joining the Trump administration’s new cold war. But big questions about handling the escalating US-China rivalry remain unanswered. Continue reading »
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What should Australian business do about its waning influence on Australia-PRC relations? (China Matters 29 July, 2020)
Australian business leaders have been overly cautious in their response to the crisis in Australia’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Continue reading »
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Remembering Margaret Thatcher
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg invoked the name of UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to support his plan to rescue Australia’s economy in the era of pandemic. My first reaction was furious anger. On reflection, Frydenburg has done us a great service. Continue reading »
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Caring for older Australians
Covid has blown the cover on much of what we need to maintain credibility as a humane nation. Care of older Australians is of priority concern. Continue reading »
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Lessons from the Cambodian genocide: 45 years on
Learning the biggest lesson of all from the Cambodian genocide – the need to make Responsibility to Protect (R2P) genuinely effective – means above all mobilizing the political will to make something actually happen when it must. Continue reading »
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Frydenberg, the hollow man: Thatcher and Reagan’s political grandson.
It has never been clear what ethical principles guide Josh Frydenberg’s politics. He appears to be a hollow man, especially with his recent declaration that he will look to the economic policies of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Regan for inspiration to shape Australia’s economic future. Continue reading »
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Please, not an austerity government again!
If there was ever a time for a government to take the bit between its teeth and achieve great things, this is the time. The coronavirus has essentially picked up the chessboard, and thrown all the pieces up in the air. Continue reading »
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Misunderstood China, from a Chinese-Canadian contrarian
Diplomacy is dead—between China and the US. When US agents broke down the doors of the Chinese consulate in Houston, all pretences of diplomatic nicety vanished. Continue reading »
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The missing millions that were meant to close gaps
In 2008 the Rudd government launched the Close the Gap Strategy which, among other things, was meant to bring equity in health and wider wellbeing into the lives of Indigenous Australians. Continue reading »
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Palace Letters: Bring On The Republic! How To Ensure A ‘Yes’ Vote This Time!
John Kerr’s correspondence with the Palace before he dismissed Gough Whitlam highlights how irrelevant the British Monarch is as our Head of State. That the dismissal of a Prime Minister wasn’t even brought to her attention, and was instead handled by her Secretary, beggars belief! Continue reading »
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AUSMIN, ANZUS and the need for contemporary relevance
On Sunday afternoon, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Defence departed Canberra aboard a RAAF A-330 on their pilgrimage to Washington DC for the annual Australia-US Ministerial (AUSMIN) talks. Continue reading »
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Australia-China relations affected by COVID-19 crisis (RN Breakfast with Fran Kelly )
China has hit back at Australian calls for an international investigation into the origins and spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Guest: Hugh White, Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies, ANU. Continue reading »
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Emperor Trumpus Maximus and his most loyal vassal, Terra Australis
Let us never forget that Emperor Trumpus Maximus is divine and so demands obedience from all of you as well as from our vassal states. Continue reading »
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Josh Frydenberg is dressing up class politics as responsible economics
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the current economic situation requires ‘supply-side’ reforms like those undertaken by the Thatcher and Reagan governments in the 1980s. The relevant lessons from those years are really rather different, as are the current needs of Australian society. Continue reading »
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Liberals throw out their Doctrines and Dogma
The Prime Minister, the head of Treasury and the present or former Chief Medical Officer may each be experts within their fields, but none of their guesses about when Coronavirus will loosen its grip on the nation’s economic throat are any better than yours or mine, or the throwing of a dice. Continue reading »
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How 5G is different – explained without jargon
5G has hit the headlines through the banning of Huawei’s 5G network technology in several countries. But what is 5G? And how is it different from what we have already? Continue reading »
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The Power of Attorney and abuse of the elderly
Australia has a long way to go and COVID is lifting the scab revealing how neglect and absolute indifference have exposed these communities of older people to an end of life nightmare. Continue reading »
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‘I am exercising my rights as a citizen(of Israel) and they are treating me like the enemy’ (Plus61J Media 23th of July, 2020)
“I also want to build a better society, and that has to include caring, compassion, equality and peace with the Palestinians.” Continue reading »
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Payne and Reynold’s collision course with China
Ministers Payne and Reynolds have presented their brief for the AUSMIN20 discussions in Washington for which the scene has been set by a series of aggressive anti-China speeches by Secretary of State Pompeo and other senior US ministers. Continue reading »