Politics
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In defence of free speech about genocide in Gaza
Early in the New Year, acclaimed journalist and former SBS news anchor Mary Kostakidis posted a statement on her X account in the hope it would bring to a close legal proceedings brought against her in the Australian Human Rights Commission by the CEO of the Zionist Federation of Australia, alleging that social media posts Continue reading »
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Rumours of ASPI’s death are exaggerated
When a review of Commonwealth funding of “strategic policy work”, together with the government’s response, was released just before Christmas, the howls from associates of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute were probably audible on the Moon. Continue reading »
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Our media ignores the elephant in the room: Israel’s illegal occupation
It falls to someone to bring the discussion concerning what is happening in the Middle East, back to the elephant in the room. And what is the elephant? It is the fact of illegal occupation and what is not being done about it. Continue reading »
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South Korea back to the streets for democracy
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s abortive attempt to impose martial law has triggered a very serious constitutional firestorm and presented the US with an extremely complicated challenge. Yoon pathetically claimed he was responding to a growing North Korean threat “within his government”, but it was obvious that his dramatic move was born out of his Continue reading »
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Which party is the more competent economic manager – Labor or Liberal?
Judgments about economic management will be critical in the next election. Examination of their respective records and policies suggests that contrary to popular opinion, Labor is better than the Coalition. Continue reading »
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The West and the rest: how genocide in Gaza will usher in the end of ‘his-story’
Since the beginning of this century — triggered by the United States’ illegal invasion of Iraq, its occupation of Afghanistan, and aided by the turbocharged arrival of the digital age — there has been significant growth in interest among those in the non-Western world around issues related to their colonial past. Continue reading »
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Steering without a compass or a map
In 1971, Time magazine decided that it might do a friendly cover story on newly installed Liberal prime minister, Billy McMahon, and asked for co-operation from his media office. The office asked that questions be submitted in writing. This was not from mistrust of Time – indeed the office was deeply conscious of what Jane Continue reading »
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Jeffrey Sachs and Joanna Lei on Taiwan and US-China conflict
Now the neocons are ready to make Taiwan the Ukraine of Asia. Continue reading »
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When will this insurrection end?
The insurrection in South Korea that was started on 3 December is still ongoing. This insurrection needs to be swiftly put to an end, but in order to do that, we need to consider the qualities of an insurrection and what it means to quell it. Continue reading »
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The release of the 2003 Iraq War cabinet papers and what we were not told
We are constantly assured that our governments don’t lie. But in this case the enormity goes beyond a mere cover-up to protect deemed “national security”. That war was a lie from beginning to end. Continue reading »
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Best of 2024: ‘Disingenuous theatre dressed up as major news’: Why the ABC is losing credibility
ABC supporters across the country are dismayed and angry with the national broadcaster. The biggest threat to the ABC today is its craven and distorted performance in television current affairs reporting. Continue reading »
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Howard’s Iraq War legacy: Tasmania’s brief moment of integrity
The release of newly declassified 2004 cabinet documents about Australia’s involvement in the Iraq War sheds further light on one of the most controversial decisions in the nation’s history. The evidence confirms what many suspected: secrecy, manipulation, and unverified claims drove the Howard government’s decision to commit troops to Iraq. Amid the rush to war, Continue reading »
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Social and affordable housing: Whacking a wicked problem
Australia’s housing crisis is caused by three factors: Supply, Supply and Supply. Supply of Land. Supply of Materials. Supply of Labour. Continue reading »
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Building a new concrete revolution to net zero
No wonder the United Nations is worried. Making one ton of cement emits nearly one ton of carbon dioxide. With an area the size of Paris being built on every week globally, construction contributes heavily to climate change. In Australia, CO2 from building is tipped to double by 2050. Continue reading »
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Open access. Break the paywall. Reclaim knowledge now
In my academic career, I’ve always advocated for not-for-profit academic journals. These platforms support academic freedom and align with the principle that research should benefit society, not merely serve the interests of profit-driven corporations. Unfortunately, the academic publishing landscape, dominated by five major commercial players—Elsevier, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, Springer Nature, and SAGE—has become a Continue reading »
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A history of humiliation
After a history of U.S. bullying and humiliation — from a broken promise not to expand NATO to deceit over Minsk — it can’t be assumed Moscow is bluffing when it warns of nuclear war. Continue reading »
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US helps Syria’s ruling al-Qaeda offshoot while punishing its people
The US ignores its own terrorist designation of Syria’s ruling Al Qaeda veterans, all while maintaining sanctions that devastate ordinary civilians. Continue reading »
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“Nothing like before” — China is out-competing the West on EVs
The West is accusing China of “overcapacity” to blame it for its own industrial demise. Continue reading »
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Will the Cocos Islands become like Diego Garcia, hijacked by the US?
The 2000 residents of Diego Garcia were forcibly removed to make way for a giant US military base. Continue reading »
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Between a wall and a hard place
The wall I am talking about here is known as the separation wall, which the Zionist occupiers of our land began building in 2002. Two years later, on 30 July 2004, The International Court of Justice issued a “first advisory opinion”, finding that the construction of a separation wall inside the occupied Palestinian territories had to Continue reading »
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Noam Chomsky, the voice silenced, the legacy unending
Voted many times by UK and US magazines as the most important public intellectual in the world, Noam Chomsky, scientist, linguist, human rights activist, suffered a stroke at age 95 and can no longer speak. Yet as 2025 begins, Chomsky at 96 gifts the world his examples of inquiry and dissent. These qualities he might Continue reading »
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Atmakusumah, doyen of press freedom in Indonesia, passes away
On June 21 1994 Indonesia’s information ministry withdrew the press permits of the weekly magazine Tempo, the weekly political tabloid Detik, and Editor, a new news weekly. Their critical reporting upset President Soeharto, particularly Tempo revealing conflict between cabinet ministers in the government purchasing naval vessels from the former East Germany. Continue reading »
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ABC editorial bias for ‘revolution’ in Syria and its implications
If only for Australia’s own security concerns, the strict application of ABC Editorial Policies in regard to Syria is vitally important. For the ABC to display bias for radical Islamist groups cannot bode well for us. It contravenes Australian beliefs and values meant to unite us. Continue reading »
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Best of 2024: What makes Chinese students so successful by international standards?
There is a belief widely held across the Western world: Chinese students are schooled through rote, passive learning – and an educational system like this can only produce docile workers who lack innovation or creativity. We argue this is far from true. Continue reading »
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When will the Trump Musk bromance end?
How long will Elon Musk last in the Trump orbit? Currently he seems to be ubiquitous but that presents a problem for Donald Trump and his massive ego. Continue reading »
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Pretext for war: Interview of a USS LIBERTY survivor
Anyone who is not aware of the Israeli attempt to sink the aptly named USS Liberty in 1967 — and even those who are well acquainted with this brutal and deadly attack — should find it very worthwhile to watch the remarkable interview of a Liberty survivor at the link transmitted below, which, encouragingly, has Continue reading »
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Israel is killing civilians in Gaza on purpose, and it’s not even debatable
Just so we’re all clear, it is a fully established fact that the IDF is directly, deliberately killing civilians in Gaza. There was a time in the early days of the genocide when this could be disputed, but that is no longer true. The facts are in and the case is closed. It’s happening. Continue reading »
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The dangers of ‘victory’
Those currently celebrating the US and Israel’s decisive military victories against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria and possibly the defeat of Ansar Allah in Yemen may soon discover the pyrrhic nature of “reshaping the Middle East” in the interests of Western civilization. Continue reading »
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Academics say China studies sector in ‘crisis’ amid a funding shortage and ‘climate of fear’
China scholar Mark Wang still remembers a time in the 2000s when Australia’s China studies was vibrant and in a leading position in the world. Continue reading »
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Best of 2024: The Ukraine war is lost. Three options remain
George Beebe, long-time head of Russia analysis at the CIA, a 27-year veteran of the agency and now the current head of Grand Strategy at the Quincy Institute in Washington, is just the kind of American the world needs right now. Understated, immensely knowledgeable and decent, he understands the Russo-Ukraine war in its widest sense Continue reading »
