Top 5
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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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PNG: the colony Australia tries to forget
Australia’s ham-handed history of colonialism, in what today is the independent state of Papua New Guinea, began in 1883 when Queensland pre-emptively annexed the southeastern corner (Papua) of the great island of New Guinea in the name of the British Crown. (The British were not amused)…. Continue reading »
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This one will blow up on Scotty: Christine Holgate’s unfair dismissal
For thirty years I have believed that, when it wants to, Australian public culture defaults to its misogynistic normal in justifying a woman be disciplined or punished for an event or outcome with which they may have absolutely nothing to do at all…. Continue reading »
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21st century democracy: blurring the lines
President Biden, at his first press conference, said this: “Look, I predict to you, your children and grandchildren are going to be doing their doctoral thesis on the issue of who succeeded: autocracy or democracy? Because that is what is at stake, not just with China”…. Continue reading »
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Misogyny at the heart of our Australian parliaments
In the normal course of events, one might expect the Roman Church in Australia to have something to say about the sub-culture within the Liberal and Country Parties in Canberra, and about the treatment of women in our community. After all, this institution used to be the self-appointed guardian of morality and the police official… Continue reading »
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Anything goes, in Canberra
‘Share your truth. It is your power’ Grace Tame, Australian of the Year 2021…. Continue reading »
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Reflecting on the lead up to Jesus’ final week
During Holy Week Christians will experience in their liturgies an intense symbolic overload. In the space of eight days, the unfolding drama of Jesus’ final days, the confronting brutality he endured and his death by crucifixion give way to the great surprise of the faith, the Resurrection…. Continue reading »
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Public Sector Wage Caps Push Wages in Agreements to 30-Year Low
Public sector wage restraint has contributed substantially to the record-low wage growth that was already being experienced throughout Australia, long before coronavirus ever arrived here. Governments at all levels should abandon this misplaced strategy, and allow free collective bargaining once again with public servants – especially after their heroic efforts to help Australians through the… Continue reading »
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The floods are a deadly reminder of the rising threat of climate change
The flooding rains in NSW, southern Queensland, and eastern Victoria are another deadly example of worsening natural disasters made more likely by climate change…. Continue reading »
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The meaning of the word ‘floodplain’ – and the consequences of building on one
One of the great challenges of city building is building sustainably. Many of our towns and cities are built at least in part on floodplains, which are by definition problematic as places on which to build…. Continue reading »
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Monthly digest on housing affordability and homelessness: Feb/Mar 2021
The following is the latest instalment of a monthly digest of interesting articles, research reports, policy announcements and other material relevant to housing stress/affordability and homelessness…. Continue reading »
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Good fortune and marketing briefs can’t save Morrison from his recent fumblings
Seemingly blessed by that invaluable gift that Machiavelli called fortune, Scott Morrison has overcome significant setbacks to achieve Australia’s highest office. He overcame his dismissal as CEO of Tourism Australia, the loss of initial preselection for his seat of Cook by 82-8, to oust the pre-selected candidate on the basis of allegations against that person… Continue reading »
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UK conservatives are willing to tax the rich to repair their budget, Morrison will only take from the needy
Conservative politicians in both Australia and the UK profess to believe in small government. However, UK conservatives are prepared to increase tax to fund essential government services while in Australia, our conservatives try to achieve small government by stealth by not properly funding key government responsibilities…. Continue reading »
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The AFP clearing-house: more political than useful
Some of the AFP commissioners have entrenched the AFP’s reputation as the most politicised force in the country. When one considers the NSW and Victoria Police, that is really saying something…. Continue reading »
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The Reserve Bank’s target for wage growth is difficult whilst the Government resists wage increases
The Reserve Bank has tied the future of monetary policy to the restoration of wage growth. But how likely is that, and what are the consequences?… Continue reading »
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China wins on points in Alaska – making a change in international relations?
At Anchorage the Chinese drew a line telling the US the old dialogue is finished. They are no longer prepared to be bullied. Either future dialogue is conducted with mutual respect or it will not be conducted at all…. Continue reading »
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Orwellian media manipulation: PM’s answer to ‘Dorothy Dixer’ published before he uttered the words
Look over there, mate. Should we really ignore a rape allegation against the first law officer of the nation because Labor also has skeletons in its closet?… Continue reading »
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Without leadership, Australia is vulnerable to foreign powers including the US
Having sold and ceded our sovereignty to the US on the international market, all but rendering Australia incapable of making independent decisions, Morrison is now hellbent on squandering domestic sovereignty. He is dividing the nation on the most basic of issues, the rights of women…. Continue reading »
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OECD Chief Mathias Cormann: a lose-lose for Australia and Europe
Pictures stick in your head don’t they. The tongue kiss Soviet President Brezhnev gave East German President Eric Honecker in 1979 is one. That photo of Scotty (“Holidays”) Morrison and now deposed clown-king Donald Trump getting close on the White House lawn is another. Smiling, whispering, foreheads touching, a speck of dribble on the corner… Continue reading »
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How good is Scott Morrison? Or is it all marketing?
After a bad beginning with the bush fires, Scott Morrison has understandably claimed credit for Australia’s relatively strong performance in mitigating the health and economic consequences of the Covid pandemic in 2020. But looking to the future, how much substance is there, or is he just Scotty from marketing. So long as Morrison remains determined… Continue reading »
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A week is a long time in politics and three weeks is even longer
Scott Morrison’s prime ministership began with a brazen betrayal, perfectly captured in the image of a beaming Morrison, arm slung around the shoulders of embattled Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull declaring ‘this is my leader. I’m ambitious for him!’. Like every step along the Prime Minister’s political path it was entirely contrived, a matey display of faux fealty, friendship and… Continue reading »
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How to tackle the dangerous epidemic of fake news and conspiracy theories.
The Macquarie Dictionary recently declared ‘fake news’ the word of the decade. While the epidemic of fake news and conspiracy theories shows no signs of abating, the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communications has made a significant contribution to the fight. … Continue reading »
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Exporting hydrogen the last throw of the dice for brown coal
Federal Energy Minister Angus Taylor’s backing for the Victorian-based hydrogen export plan, which he described as a “significant project”, defies financial credibility…. Continue reading »
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The unlikely despot of Damascus
One can only hope Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, who trained for a life as an ophthalmologist, is regretting his self-inflicted myopia 10 years ago this month. When al-Assad decided to crush the widespread protests demanding political reforms, including a new leader, the ramifications for Syria were disastrous…. Continue reading »
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Vaccination controversy shouldn’t compromise efforts to protect Australians
The crucial fact is that all the vaccines being administered around the world provide near 100% protection from death and the need for those infected to receive intensive hospital care…. Continue reading »
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Political stunt silences the Aged Care Royal Commission’s final report
Attempts to politicise the Aged Care Royal Commission report by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Health Minister Greg Hunt underline the government’s failure to tackle the problems in aged care. The press conference, called at short notice with journalists given no time to prepare was a stunt to divert attention from the rape allegations against the… Continue reading »
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Manufacturing consent: Australian War Memorial has become a cheerleader for war
The Australian War Memorial is being transformed, against the wishes of the Australian people, from a place of war commemoration to a place that honours war itself, a militaristic and rousing endorsement of every decision to send Australians to war…. Continue reading »
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How a nurse saved the day. And nurses do it every day.
Sadly, the critical role that nurses and midwives play in keeping people (and the health system) safe is all too often unseen and unrecognised. Maybe it is that we are so familiar and numerous that our role is somewhat taken for granted…. Continue reading »
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The abuse culture comes from entitled boys from almost all the most expensive and privileged private schools – the germ of Australia’s ruling class.
Is anyone surprised that in this environment of contempt for the public, the disadvantaged, and for principles of public stewardship, that disrespect for women rages, and that abuse of women is seen more through the lens of political damage?… Continue reading »
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Pariah state: ‘Something really ugly’ about Australia’s foreign policy
In summing up the malign influence of the Murdoch media in the UK, Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger commented: “We’ve allowed something really ugly to happen in this country…” The same has to be said about the ugliness of Australian foreign policy, with the Murdoch media bearing some responsibility for uncritical support of nefarious practices…. Continue reading »
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Top 5 most read
- A culture of corruption is engulfing the Morrison government
A culture of corruption is engulfing the Morrison government. It’s… - This one will blow up on Scotty: Christine…
For thirty years I have believed that, when it wants… - Saturday’s good reading and listening for the weekend
What people in other forums are saying about public policy… - 21st century democracy: blurring the lines
President Biden, at his first press conference, said this: “Look,… - Not sleepwalking but marching with eyes wide open to…
A lie told often enough can become accepted, but it…
