Politics
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PETER SAINSBURY. Corona-myths: shifting the blame to preserve privilege. Part 1 of 2.
Myths about the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, who is to blame and characteristics of the global response abound. In Part 1 I explore seven myths, the most significant being that the pandemic could not have been predicted. These myths are being used to obscure the truth, shift responsibility and perpetuate existing power and privilege. Continue reading »
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ROY GREEN. Australia’s Manufacturing Future. Part 1 of 2
Every crisis provides an opportunity and Covid-19 is no exception. Not only has it exposed the gaps in Australia’s manufacturing supply chains, but it has also more broadly demonstrated the vulnerability of a commodity-based economy to external shocks and the need to reverse the now all too apparent hollowing out of manufacturing capability. Continue reading »
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ABUL RIZVI. The plight of temporary entrants
For Sujith, Priyanga and their two children, winter is coming as it is for so many temporary residents. Continue reading »
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BRIAN COYNE: The Bolt-Pell interview: It was “vintage Murdoch”
Stir up the emotions of Benny-Ratz’s little people Continue reading »
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A Wake-Up Call
With the world in the grip of the Covid19 virus, there are lessons to be learnt and changes to consider. The pandemic has brought nations together who were eschewing the value of international co-operation. It has highlighted the need for reform. Continue reading »
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ALLAN PATIENCE. The Future is global.
The closing of borders because of the coronavirus pandemic has inflamed opinion around the world that the era of globalisation is coming to an end. Governments are raising the sovereignty flag, hunkering down behind their borders. Continue reading »
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MICHAEL PASCOE. The CEOs, MBAs and private equiteers undermining our resilience (THE NEW DAILY 08.04.20)
Corporate Australia is in serious trouble thanks to COVID-19, but it’s trouble that has been made worse by a generation of CEOs, directors, MBA-badged management consultants and private equiteers undermining our resilience – grabbing short-term profits and ramping up share prices at the cost of sustainability. Continue reading »
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STEPHEN LEEDER: The public health discipline after Covid-19
The Coronavirus pandemic draws our attention to the importance of public health in maintaining global human health. Public health as a discipline is distinguished by taking the entire community into account rather than individual patients, and seeking out what can be done to protect and promote human flourishing for all in that community. Continue reading »
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MICHAEL JAMES KELLY. An Old Mans Gripe
It is a paradox: in the midst of suffering and dying, there is an unfamiliar human warmth. I have encountered it at several levels. Continue reading »
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JAMES CURRAN. COVID-19 triggers a reset of domestic and international institutions
As governments try to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, they must have a view of the immediate future if they are to act rationally. Continue reading »
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MUNGO MACCALLUM. Snapback
Well, that should be out of the way for the next four months. Having shrugged off the minor and temporary distraction of parliament, Scott Morrison can resume doing what he is best at – marketing himself and his often dubious achievements. Continue reading »
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STEPHEN LEEDER.We’ve flattened the curve, but the nation’s health is still in danger
2020 is not panning out to be the Year of Tranquillity in Australia. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL.What a difference a change of government makes – to the Murdoch media
It is frequently asserted that if you change the government you change the country. But perhaps the assertion that if you change the government you also change the way the media – particularly the Murdoch media – reports on a government’s policies might be more apposite in Australia. Continue reading »
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MICHAEL WEST. Virgin Australia: buy the business, don’t bail out the shareholders (MWM 02.04.20)
Virgin Australia is pleading for a bail-out twice what its shares a worth. Its wealthy foreign shareholders can afford to pay. They’ve scampered. What is the answer? Continue reading »
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ROSS GITTINS.Scott Morrison,Easter and the pandemic(SMH 13.4.2020)
Since it’s Easter, let me tell you about something that’s long puzzled me: how can an out-and-proud Pentecostalist such as Prime Minister Scott Morrison be leading the most un-Christian government I can remember? Fortunately, however, the virus crisis seems to be bringing out his more caring side. Continue reading »
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MUNGO MACCALLUM. Science and modelling.
In the modelling for COVID-19, the real world evidence is too immediate, too stark to be wished away by nitpicking. Continue reading »
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DUNCAN GRAHAM But the dead are many
Indonesia’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic makes a train wreck seem structured. The fourth most populous nation has next to no testing, no info, no direction – and most important of all – no trust. Such is the legacy of authoritarianism. Continue reading »
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RICHARD HAASS.The Pandemic will accelerate history rather than reshape it(Foreign Affairs 7.4.2020)
We are going through what by every measure is a great crisis, so it is natural to assume that it will prove to be a turning point in modern history. Continue reading »
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GARY MOORHEAD. CSL- It Could Have Been Worse; Can It Be Better?
Back in 2010, Australia’s privatised Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (now CSL) was being tempted to move its vaccine research facilities to Switzerland, where it had been promised a better tax deal. Continue reading »
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LAURIE PATTON. Public administration accountability is not what it used to be!
Blame shifting between state and federal government agencies over how a cruise ship carrying people suspected to have the Coronavirus was allowed into the port of Sydney has shown up, yet again, the lack of public administration accountability in this country. Continue reading »
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ROGER SCOTT. Queensland votes despite the virus: results predictable, process chaotic
Two by-elections and the state-wide local government elections went ahead last month with outcomes that returned most major party candidates but encouraged only the Greens and One Nation. The process was abysmally managed, with chaos and uncertainty on the day and results still not finalised. Continue reading »
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NEVE GORDON. For Us in the West, the Lockdown Is Meant to Save Lives. In Gaza It Will Kill Many (07.04.2020 HAARETZ)
When people started to share the Facebook post “Dear world: How is the lockdown? – Gaza,” I felt uncomfortable. Though the posters sought to generate empathy for the 2 million Palestinians trapped in the Gaza Strip, the attempt to compare the closure that free citizens of the West are experiencing to the 13-year siege on the Continue reading »
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PETER SAINSBURY. Sunday environmental round up, 12 April 2020
Biodiversity features heavily this week: a distressing update on bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef but good news that the right action now could restore the Earth’s oceans to good health by 2050; the Tasmanian government hellbent on logging native forests; and the decline of Spotted Frogs in the USA heralding bad news for humans. Continue reading »
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JACK WATERFORD supports Pearls and Irritations
There are any number of websites by which one can keep up with the news. Some also have interesting commentary. But johnmenadue.com is the place of choice for serious attention by experts into important public policy issues — whether in defence and international affairs, in education, immigration, health, housing, the environment and climate change, and on social issues. 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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FRANCIS SULLIVAN. It is not possible to divorce George Pell’s acquittal from the history of child abuse(The Guardian 9.4.2020)
The bishops should end their obsession with Pell and take up their moral responsibility to victims. Continue reading »
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MICHAEL KELLY. Coping with Isolation
The ‘command and control’ world of isolation we all find ourselves requires some new lessons in coping with isolation. Father Michael Kelly reflects on his experience of the strict world of the Jesuit Novitiate to guide him through his isolation. Continue reading »
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JASON YAT-SEN LI et al. An open letter from Chinese -Australians calling for national unity.
We are deeply concerned that the recent rise in anti-Chinese sentiment is driving a marked escalation in racial abuse towards Asian Australians. This poses a serious threat to our national unity. Continue reading »
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JOHN DWYER.Exploring COVID-19 controversies. Part Two.
How do we safely ease social distancing restrictions and reignite our economy? Continue reading »
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DAVID SOLOMON. Planning for a better future
Its time to think about – and plan for – what will be on the other side of this coronavirus bridge the Prime Minister keeps talking about. It may be 12, 18 or 24 months away, but the thinking and planning for life after COVID-19 should start now. Continue reading »
