Politics
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LAURIE PATTON. It’s time to clean up the Internet
This week a new CEO joined the Internet Society – the global not-for-profit overseeing the development of the Internet since1992. In his first official statement Andrew Sullivan noted that it’s a challenging time for the Internet. I agree. Which is why this article, originally posted back in June, still resonates. Continue reading »
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STEPHEN LONG. The reality is new coal power is not the answer for cheaper electricity bills (ABC News, 03.09.18)
The tipping point’s been reached: renewable energy is now a cheaper source of power for Australia’s future electricity needs than coal. Continue reading »
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MUNGO MacCALLUM. Tony Abbott from back bench rebel to back bench envoy.
Our new, or at least our current, Prime Minister, has a plan to solve the Tony Abbott problem – make him an envoy to his indigenous Australia. Of course he would prefer to make the man an envoy to outer space, if not beyond; but politics remains the art of the possible. So the idea Continue reading »
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KIERAN TAPSELL. Accountability, Clericalism and Culture in the Catholic Church
Pope Francis has little chance of overcoming clericalism and the toxic culture of cover up in the Catholic Church unless he changes those parts of canon law which are dripping with it. Continue reading »
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JAMES CURRAN. Julie Bishop: buffeted by headwinds.
Few can quibble with the accolades that Julie Bishop has received in recent days for the manner in which she performed the role of Australian foreign minister. The first woman to hold the position, she graced the world stage with a mixture of professionalism and poise, dignity and discipline. No one can doubt Bishop’s ability Continue reading »
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BEHROUZ BOOCHANI. Australia needs a moral revolution (the Guardian 31.08.18)
Five years ago, on a boiling hot day, Australian immigration minister Scott Morrison entered Manus Prison. A number of refugees who represented various groups were invited to meet with him. In that meeting, the refugee representatives found themselves being threatened – Morrison pointed his finger at them and yelled: “You have no chance of coming Continue reading »
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MUNGO MacCALLUM. Tony Abbott – from a back bench rebel to a back bench envoy.
Our new, or at least our current, Prime Minister, has a plan to solve the Tony Abbott problem – make him an envoy to his indigenous Australia. Of course he would prefer to make the man an envoy to outer space, if not beyond; but politics remains the art of the possible. So the idea Continue reading »
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JOHN MENADUE Is money behind the Coalition’s addiction to coal?
It is clear to almost everyone that new coal fired generators will be not only very polluting but much more expensive to operate than the generation of power from renewables. But the Coalition keeps pressing the case for coal . Some months ago our new Prime Minister even threw lumps of coal around the Parliament Continue reading »
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GOOD READING AND LISTENING FOR THE WEEKEND
A regular collection of links to writings and broadcasts covered in other media. Continue reading »
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TRISTAN EDIS. Turnbull was knifed by a lie: Renewables are already bringing prices down.
Australia has replaced yet another Prime Minister mid-term via a leadership coup. Continue reading »
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WALEED ALY. Dutton’s au pair drama shows hypocrisy of immigration policy (SMH 31/8/2018)
“As a discretionary and humanitarian act to an individual with ongoing needs, it is in the interests of Australia as a humane and generous society to grant this person a tourist visa.” That’s Peter Dutton, then immigration minister, in the official document by which he intervened to allow an au pair to enter the country. Continue reading »
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JANE CADZOW. The watchman – Scott Morrison (Sun Herald, 3 November 2012)
Accused of inflaming racism, Scott Morrison insists people have the wrong idea about him. Jane Cadzow meets the Liberals’ immigration spokesman. This article was published in the Sun Herald on 3 November 2012 . In his maiden speech in 2008 Scott Morrison said ‘From my faith, I derive the values of loving kindness, justice and Continue reading »
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Taylor confirms no interest in emissions, but says he’s no climate skeptic (RenewEconomy, 30.08.18)
New energy minister Angus Taylor has confirmed what was largely expected: that he has no interest in emission reductions under the remit handed him by prime minister Scott Morrison, and that his primary focus will be on reducing prices for consumers. Continue reading »
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KIM WINGEREI. The Political Games of Mediocrity.
John Menadue and Ian McAuley pointed out in ‘A new leader, but no sight of leadership’ the lack of leadership in the Liberal Party. And it’s not just the one party, the lack of leadership in Australian politics is firmly rooted in a political system that attracts the mediocre, rewards the conformists and preserves the Continue reading »
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MICHAEL SAINSBURY. Payne can give proper attention to Asia that Bishop failed to do- (Crikey)
Australia’s new Foreign Minister Marise Payne has plenty to learn from Julie Bishop’s significant missteps — and indeed non-steps — in the same role. Continue reading »
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CNN Interview with New York Mayer BILL de BLASIO (DEM) on Rupert Murdoch’s media
BRIAN STELTER, CNN HOST: Welcome back to RELIABLE SOURCES. I’m Brian Stelter. If you asked New York City’s mayor what lies behind a lot of the negativity and the divisiveness creeping this nation, he’s got a simple answer for you. He says it’s the media empire of Rupert Murdoch that’s at fault. Bill de Blasio Continue reading »
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NEAL BLEWETT. Establishing, defending and improving Medicare.
Neal Blewett AC delivered the Hayden Oration at Ipswich on 15 August 2018. Neal Blewett as Minister for Health from 1983 under the Hawke government, and later Minister for Community Services and Health, implemented the Medicare universal health scheme, disability services, campaigns to reduce tobacco and alcohol abuse, and a national strategy to combat AIDS/HIV. Continue reading »
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GREG BAILEY. Who wins from Malcolm Turnbull’s dismissal?
Who wins from last week’s disastrous week in politics and what can we expect it to give rise to if anything? Nothing occurs in a vacuum and now that the carnage has been temporarily suspended the commentariat is attempting to find continuities and discontinuities that might possess some explanatory value. Continue reading »
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ANDREW JAKUBOWICZ A multicultural whirlwind blowing up for the next election
Turnbull’s gone and with him, hopefully, his recurrent but incorrect mantra of Australia as the most successful multicultural society in the world. With the next federal election now just over the horizon, understanding how the ethnic vote delivered the last election to the Coalition may help us to understand how Australia’s multicultural present could Continue reading »
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E. TAMMY KIM. Moon Over Korea (New York Review of Books 16.08.18 Issue)
Moon Jae-in eui Unmyeong [The Destiny of Moon Jae-in] by Moon Jae-in Seoul: Bookpal, 488 pp., ₩15,000 In Singapore on June 12, as Donald Trump vigorously shook hands with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, the man behind this improbable meeting leaned forward in his chair and smiled. South Korean president Moon Jae-in, just thirteen months into Continue reading »
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TONY KEVIN. Australian politics: There has not been nearly enough change.
Reflections on last week’s political bloodbath and on what needs to happen now. Continue reading »
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ANTONIO SPADARO SJ. The prosperity gospel-dangerous and different
SCOTT MORRISON is described as a devout Christian who worships at Shirelive, an American style Pentecostal Church in Sydney.. He formerly belonged to Hillsong. An essential feature of the ‘prosperity gospel’ of Pentecostalists is that prosperity, success and good health is a sign of God’s favour. And the lack of faith leads to poverty and Continue reading »
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JOHN MENADUE & IAN McAULEY: A new “leader”, but no sight of leadership.
The Liberal Party has a new “leader”, but there is still a dearth of the leadership in the Liberal Party, which seems to be unable to deal with hard issues, such as meeting our emissions target and coping with the effects of climate change. And there are much harder problems of economic structure calling for Continue reading »
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JERRY ROBERTS Politics and Religion
Fraser Anning has given us the most spectacular take on The White Australia Policy since Labor legend Arthur Calwell’s 1947 quip: “Two Wongs don’t make a White.” Calwell later explained that he was making a joke at the expense of the member for Balaclava, T.W. White. I accept his explanation just as I accept Senator Continue reading »
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MUNGO MacCALLUM. Morrison is, and has always been, a creature of the right, both economically and socially.
A bandaid has been administered to the schism between moderates and rightists but the war will go on unabated. Continue reading »
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JOHN MENADUE Tracking Peter Costello is not a good start for Josh Frydenberg .
After failing with his National Energy Guarantee, Josh Frydenberg rushed to Melbourne to get some tips from Peter Costello about handling his new Treasury portfolio. In fawning style over coffee, Frydenberg described Costello as ‘the greatest living Treasurer’. It is part of the Liberal Party myth that conservatives are better economic managers. But it is Continue reading »
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SUSAN RYAN .When it comes to women, all Liberals are conservatives.
It was with a sense of irony that on Saturday August 25th, a few hours after the parliamentary Liberal party concluded days of ugly self-mutilation by electing Scott Morrison as Prime Minister and Josh Frydenberg as deputy liberal leader, I attended at Old Parliament House Canberra a government sponsored launch of an exhibition to honour Continue reading »
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Morrison names leading anti-wind campaigner as energy minister
New prime minister Scott Morrison has ended the experiment of combining the energy and environment portfolios, and appointed one of the country’s most prominent anti-wind campaigners as energy minister, and a former mining industry lawyer as environment minister. Continue reading »
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ALISON BROINOWSKI. ‘Truth isn’t truth’
While Australia was transfixed by the events of 21-24 August, troubles for another leader were mounting in Washington. Turnbull lost the Lodge, and Trump has not yet lost the White House, but a common actor in both dramas remains the Murdoch media. Continue reading »