Politics
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Australia’s Defence: All the way with the USA, again?
The PM’s July speech launching the new strategic documents presents an alarming picture of the state of our immediate region, on which he says the Government will focus. Continue reading »
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How to avoid a September cliff edge (AFR 29.6.20)
Bond sales to the Reserve Bank would allow stimulus to continue without busting the budget or raising taxes. Continue reading »
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No More Free-Lunch Bailouts (Project Syndicate 25.6.20)
With governments spending on a massive scale to save industries and mitigate the economic fallout from COVID-19, they should be positioning their economies for a more sustainable future. Continue reading »
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Sunday environmental round up, 5 July 2020
Disgraceful behaviour at home and in the United Nations allows Australia to meet its Kyoto greenhouse gas emissions targets, while our overall environmental performance scores high and low. Corruption and money laundering exposed at the root of the illegal trade in wild animals, and climate change affects deer migration patterns in the USA. Fossil fuels Continue reading »
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Scott Morrison. We’re not in the new 1930s
Leaders seem to want to believe that they’re living in the world’s most interesting times but there’s a real danger if they make it so. Continue reading »
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“Independent” think-tank ASPI behind push for more defence spending rakes in advisory fees
Funded by the Department of Defence, the Australia Strategic Policy Institute collects millions more as it drives the “China threat” narrative. As Marcus Reubenstein reports, while ASPI is the media’s go-to experts for public comment, ASPI is remarkably coy about revealing all its funding sources. Continue reading »
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Morrison beating the drums of war
Scott Morrison’s most recent statements regarding defence and security are chilling reminders that a war with China is no longer merely a possibility, but that real plans are being made in real time. Continue reading »
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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. Continue reading »
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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. 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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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? Continue reading »
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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 through their re-opened borders has brought it to a head. Continue reading »
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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? Continue reading »
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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? Continue reading »
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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. Continue reading »
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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. Continue reading »
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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. Continue reading »
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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. Continue reading »
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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. Continue reading »
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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. Continue reading »
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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 in the workplace. Continue reading »
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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. Continue reading »
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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 heart of the incumbent opposition leader. For Mahon is the only opposition candidate to lose 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 »
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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. Continue reading »
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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. Continue reading »
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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 made across the United States to open the economy should not surprise. Continue reading »
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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. Continue reading »