Public Policy
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Integrating care for better health
Complexity is part of our contemporary experience and mind-bogglingly complicated health systems make even small changes difficult and broad reform almost impossible. Continue reading »
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More aquaculture to feed a silent world
Sustainable aquaculture to boost fish supplies. Rich nations fund poor’s fossil fuel industries. Extinctions silence nature. Continue reading »
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Raising Warragamba Dam is not the best flood mitigation strategy, Premier
Last week, New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said that raising Warragamba Dam was the “best strategy” for managing the flood problem in the Hawkesbury-Nepean valley. It is not. It is not even a good strategy, or close to one. Continue reading »
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The ‘100-year flood’ and the floor levels of houses
The so-called ‘100-year’ (or 1% Annual Exceedence Probability) flood has two main uses in the public domain in Australia. Both are problematic, though not intentionally so on the part of those whose professional activities are bound by its use. Continue reading »
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Keith Mitchelson: The thievery of British Petroleum started in Australia
Global oil companies like to be thought of positively. British Petroleum was initiated by a colonial Australian conman, and there is virtually no evidence of any improvement in its business culture since then. Continue reading »
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David O’Halloran: One hour a week counts as employed – it doesn’t matter
One hour a week counts as employed – it doesn’t matter. Continue reading »
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The flood problem, immigration and population growth
The management of weather-related emergency situations like floods is the responsibility of the states. But the policies and activities of the Commonwealth government can make big differences to the impacts of floods, either for better or for worse. This is clearly demonstrated via immigration policy and its impact on population growth. Continue reading »
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How to trigger a war: three easy lessons for Australia
One: Select your grievance. Two: Insult and belittle your adversary. Three: Brace yourself… Continue reading »
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Environment: Prescribed burning makes bushfires worse
Prescribed burning does more harm than good, as do fossil fuel subsidies. How to protect wild species. Continue reading »
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A national well-being budget
Every functioning household knows the importance of budgeting. No more so than when hopes, expectations and demands exceed resources available. What is possible at one moment may not be possible at another. A priority at one moment will change in different circumstances. A good budget is one that reflects the values of the household and Continue reading »
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Are we approaching a consensus on the need to manage flooding differently?
It is possible that recent events related to flooding in New South Wales are galvanising a consensus on how we manage the threats floods pose. If that is so, we are on the verge of a phase shift in our management of floods. Continue reading »
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Thinking outside the age care trap
Too much of our thinking about aged care is based on outmoded assumptions. It is argued that ageing Baby Boomers will cost the economy dearly, when in fact it is the policy taken that has caused a crisis. Change is essential, for today’s Millennials, facing a century-long life, will be an even larger aged cohort. Continue reading »
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Another word on the sadness and madness of the language of the ‘one-in-100-years’ flood
Not even the Premier of New South Wales understands the meaning of the term the ‘one-in-100-years’ flood. Nor does the Prime Minister, who this week repeated the Premier’s misguided words on it. Continue reading »
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NSW awaits a momentous decision on housing development on floodplains
When it comes to the management of weather-related disasters like floods, governments can be relied upon to act in only two circumstances – catastrophe or repetition. Continue reading »
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Environment: Supreme Court gives the world a climate headache
US Supreme Court favours ‘democracy’ over climate action. Overshooting 2oC of warming will be bad news for ecosystems. Space tourism preparing for launch. Continue reading »
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Back to first principles on drugs
Just why is it so hard for politicians to see a better way forward in dealing with drugs in the community and to act on that vision? It is not for lack of evidence of what works to make things better and most of the community knows that. Continue reading »
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Flood misunderstanding, miscommunication, extremes and records
Last Monday, a couple spoke to an ABC television reporter on the back steps of their home on the edge of Wollongong’s Lake Illawarra. They were confident that the flood they could see in front of them would not rise beyond the level it had reached. After all, they’d been living there for 19 years Continue reading »
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Environment: Enormous environmental consequences of the war in Ukraine
The conflict in Ukraine is destroying environments and not only in the war zone. Cartoon characters combat ecofascism and Global South nations outline their expectations of November’s COP meeting in Egypt. Continue reading »
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DAVID O’HALLORAN : Workforce Australia will repeat the same mistakes as jobactive
Australia’s employment services system is about to have a major shake-up commencing on July 4th. The lamentable ‘jobactive’ (no capital ‘j’) is being replaced by a new program ‘Workforce Australia’. Will Workforce Australia be any better than previous designs? Continue reading »
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Dr Chris Brook: Courts getting science wrong: Again
Should forensic science be scientific? Seemingly not, if you ask the Victorian Court of Appeal. Continue reading »
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In the ever deteriorating relationship with China, the mainstream media have a lot to answer for
Australia’s mainstream media seem determined to scuttle a reset of Australia-China relations. Continue reading »
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The voice implies a change of heart
The Government’s proposal for a referendum on a Voice is a bold idea whose time has come. But it is being asked to carry a lot of weight – weight that might easily sink it. Continue reading »
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Where now with climate?
The government’s Climate Change bill, with its 43 percent emissions reduction target, has passed the House. Now, there is a huge agenda of things to do to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Continue reading »
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Chegg, cheating and Australian Universities
The note on Radio National’s Background Briefing on the morning of July 31 was sombre. A student, who did not divulge his real name (he is professionally pseudonymised as Ramesh), talks about services that aid him in his study. Aid is less accurate than do – given that he is working gruelling night shifts in Continue reading »
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What to do about the Treasure Island of Taiwan
“Sir, with no intention to take offence, I deny your right to put words into my mouth,” Captain Smollett said in Stevenson’s classic Treasure Island. Continue reading »
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In Asian Media this week…The reckless Pelosi
Plan to stabilise US-China links; Beijing’s hand strengthened; tighter control over Taiwan; war not imminent. Continue reading »
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Tackling junk food
Australia’s Children a report from the Australian institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), was published in 2019 and updated this year. It struggled to find data that would enable a comprehensive understanding of our children’s nutritional and physical activity status. Continue reading »
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Australians will miss a once in a century opportunity if we shirk a referendum on an Indigenous voice
David Solomon has raised an important issue in Pearls and Irritations this week. He has suggested some opinion leaders may argue there is little point in a referendum to enshrine a Voice for First Nations in Australia’s Constitution because the Commonwealth parliament already has the power to legislate for creation of such a “Voice” and Continue reading »
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My life with Friedreich’s Ataxia – some autobiographical reflections
I can still remember some events quite well of my early life when I was seven. For example, let me tell you about trying to ride a bicycle. It took me a while and took me some time before I got to master it. It was no easy feat. Continue reading »
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The Chinese Ambassador and our ignorant and hostile media
We should be alarmed, if not ashamed, at how some of these journalists behaved and reported. Continue reading »
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A “whole of process” approach could reduce Aboriginal incarceration
There are many points of entry into incarceration at which a decision NOT to detain can be made, from the first encounter with police through to sentence and even after sentence. Continue reading »
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A hodge-podge is not an international service
As Opposition Leader touring overseas, Anthony Albanese probably clicked on ABC Australia TV to kill time. If so his claim that ‘it’s a matter of national security that the ABC makes more content that projects Australian values and interests to the Indo-Pacific region’ sounds like despair driving action. Continue reading »
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It’s time to clean up the mess that is Australia’s higher education system
In recent Pearls and Irritations posts, James Guthrie, Adam Lucas and Alessandro Pelizzon have signalled the need for a Royal Commission into higher education in Australia. Their advocacy could not be timelier. Continue reading »
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John Menadue: The Ukrainian / Zelensky propaganda war
Amnesty International has just released a report that drew attention to Ukrainian violations of International Law in its war with Russia. It quickly became a footnote in the propaganda war. Continue reading »
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Uluru Statement and Makaratta message redefine sovereignty
There is a huge contrast between the notion sovereignty depicted in the Uluru Statement from the Heart and political leaders’ perception of this concept as a weapon. Uluru’s message forecasts hope through reciprocity and healing. Continue reading »
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Jeffrey Sachs and Neil Harrison: Did US biotechnology help to create COVID-19?
NEW YORK – When US President Joe Biden asked the United States Intelligence Community to determine the origin of COVID-19, its conclusion was remarkably understated but nonetheless shocking. Continue reading »
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Gilding the cage of suburbia: farewelling Neighbours
The statistics of Australia’s longest running drama series about sickeningly idyllic suburbia will interest soap show boffins. It lasted 5,955 episodes over 37 seasons, starting in 1985. Continue reading »
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Gary Highland: Changing the parliament and changing the country
Kerrynne Liddle had to wait a nail biting 25 days to be confirmed as the final Aboriginal person elected to the Federal Parliament at the May 21 election. Continue reading »
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Katrina Watson: How to save General Practice
I’m a recently retired specialist doctor and I keep an eye on medical affairs. They affect all of us, especially as we get older, and people still ask what I think. Continue reading »
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James Guthrie and Adam Lucas: It’s time for a Royal Commission into the governance of Australia’s public universities
What is the core purpose of a university? Is it to share knowledge and engage in research? Or is it to make money? Our analysis of university management rhetoric versus financial reality for Australian public sector universities finds that they have drifted far away from their core mission to become property development and financial investment Continue reading »
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Peter Brooks and Peter Lewis-Hughes: A possible roadmap for a national pandemic plan
The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted weaknesses and disconnections within Australian Health systems which significantly impacted on our ability to reliably detect and respond to this outbreak in a timely, effective and efficient manner. Continue reading »
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In Asia media this week
Myanmar’s sickening political executions; a terrible ‘new normal’ in Sri Lanka; dictatorial democracies; ‘bananas’ a code for bribes; China hits out at ASPI; no consensus on Taiwan consensus; HK’s latest status symbol. Continue reading »
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Environment: Australia’s natural environment – sick and getting sicker
Australia’s environment needs better governments and more respect. Mexican asparagus: nice but very naughty. Continue reading »
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Will 2022 be the year primary health care takes a step up?
One thing primary care has a lot of is reports about reform. But despite a significant investment in reviews, consultations, and paper over the last five years, not a single cent has been invested in transforming these words on paper into policies which benefit patients and practitioners. Even though the previous government’s ten-year primary care Continue reading »
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