Top 5
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All Victorians invited to make a truth telling submission
All Victorians are now invited to be part of truth telling by making a submission to the Yoorrook Justice Commission. Submissions had previously been open to First Peoples only. Continue reading »
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40,000 infrastructure defects reported in Sydney Trains’ maintenance backlog
It took a Ministerial review to say what should have been blindingly obvious to each of Sydney Trains, the Transport Asset Holding Entity, Transport for NSW and Treasury: the timetable is defective and there is a maintenance backlog evidenced by a reported 40,000 infrastructure defects. Continue reading »
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Wagner and China: The final curtain or an encore still to come?
For a few days, China, like the rest of the world, was transfixed by the Wagner Group’s tactical advance on Moscow, threatening the stability of the Russian government and the rule of President Vladimir Putin before the challenge collapsed suddenly. Continue reading »
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To tackle climate change, we need peace – and also an accountable Defence department
Preventing wars, demilitarisation and promoting peace are vital strategies for tackling climate change, writes Dr Sue Wareham OAM, President of the Medical Association for Prevention of War. She also urges the Defence Department to lift its game on climate action, and to commit to improved measurement, reporting and scrutiny of military emissions. Continue reading »
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AFP Commissioner has some explaining to do
Information provided to the Senate committee inquiring into inappropriate handling by PWC Australia of confidential tax information has revealed that AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw and former NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller and now PWC partner met in July 2022. We are told that the purpose of the meeting involved discussion around Fuller via PWC Australia Continue reading »
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A new politics is coming, ready or not
Prime Minister Albanese’s commitment to the bogus AUKUS deal stands in stark contrast to the ethical leadership of the late Simon Crean. At the time, Mr Crean’s opposition to John Howard’s craven commitment to the Iraq war was a rare and beautiful exception to the tradition of old politics in Australia. Can the country find Continue reading »
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From war to peace
In the Soviet-era film of Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel “War and Peace” there is a haunting scene, brought to mind by recent events in Russia. Continue reading »
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Public education’s ‘elephant in the classroom’
In the debate on the rehabilitation of public schools, there is an unpleasant issue that must not be mentioned. Not by the Unions, not the Government, not the Principals’ organisations and definitely not the private schools. ‘The elephant in the room’ is severe disruptive behaviour. Continue reading »
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The West must prepare for a long overdue reckoning
Five major trends illustrate how the world is changing, and that the West must grapple with the reality that it can no longer impose its “leadership” on the world as it once did. Continue reading »
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Malignant obsessions distract us from the collapse of human civilisation
The real drama played out in the North Atlantic last week wasn’t the latest hubristic exercise in “frontier tourism”, but the current sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly rise, recorded on the Northern Hemisphere summer solstice, June 21, 2023. Continue reading »
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Voice needs a serious rattle of spears
The biggest risk to the success of the referendum on Aboriginal recognition is the Albanese government’s lack of resolution. It has strongly promoted the voice, successfully in parliament, but far less effectively within the broader community. There is a serious prospect that the various proponents of the No case will win by default, mostly because Continue reading »
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The United States faces a critical choice
Does it want to maintain its “primacy” or improve the livelihood of its people? Continue reading »
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Menzies told the US, ANZUS did not apply on Taiwan. Why not Albanese?
Call it Carr’s law. I’m pretty confident it withstands any testing. It’s simple: find someone talking up war with China and, if they were around 20 years ago, you find they were a supporter of the Iraq invasion. Continue reading »
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Our planet is imploding: when will we act to save ourselves?
While much of humanity was glued to the unfolding drama over one tiny submarine, the Earth we all inhabit is slowly, steadily and implacably imploding around us. Continue reading »
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Yes, of course we need a Human Rights Act!
Australia is the only democratic country in the world without a charter of human rights in either legislation or the Constitution. Continue reading »
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Gambling and tobacco a tale of two ‘poisons’. The lessons we must learn to tame ‘big gambling’
Gambling is normalised and celebrated which has led to the highest levels of gambling losses per capita in the world – 40 per cent higher for poker machines and 20 per cent higher for online gambling – well ahead of any other country. Continue reading »
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AUKUS and the division of Labor
Delegates at Labor’s National Conference in August will have to pay more attention than usual to foreign and defence policy. Dissent on AUKUS is spreading, while Palestine is a promise to keep. Continue reading »
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A subservient defence policy undermines Albanese’s successful first year
There were celebrations and high expectations when Prime Minister Albanese and his talented front bench formed the government in May 2022. The language and style of the national agenda appealed to Australians wanting realistic policies and a two-way conversation about what is in the best interests of our community. There were inspiring speeches and commitments Continue reading »
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Vale Dennis Argall
After enduring chronic illness for many decades, Dennis passed away peacefully at 11:10pm (AEST) on Tuesday the 13th of June. Continue reading »
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Before Ellsberg died, he revealed detailed US plans to nuke China
The final revelation of whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, who died on Friday at the age of 92, was to reveal details of top secret US plans to launch a nuclear invasion of China. Continue reading »
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The Western fantasy of a Taiwanese proxy war against China
The Western hope that Taiwan could serve as a catalyst for an attack of China seems likely to remain the fantasy it always was. Continue reading »
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Is PWC Australia a criminal organisation?
Secrecy and the need to ensure natural justice for Peter Collins & other PWC Australia staff who received or used confidential information, prevents disclosure of the specific offences being investigated by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). But there will be no shortage of possible offences to investigate. They range from a breach of tax secrecy Continue reading »
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The generational divide in Australian politics is widening
Opposition to the AUKUS deal among rank and file Labor supporters and similarly aligned voters is increasing by the day. Continue reading »
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Culture and Religion, Defence and Security, Government, International relations, Politics, Religion and Faith, Top 5
The case for recognising Palestine
Since a United Nations General Assembly Resolution vote in November 2012, Palestine has had the status of a state within the UN system. It is not a full member state but, like the Holy See, a non-member observer state. Australia – after a heady debate within the Gillard cabinet – abstained on that vote. Continue reading »
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Why is America so reluctant to acknowledge China’s economic power?
The statistical evidence clearly shows that China is the world’s number one economy. Unfortunately, the US and many commentators are unwilling to acknowledge that reality, but the future stability of the region depends on acceptance that we are living in a multipolar world. Continue reading »
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Carbon dioxide in our atmosphere hits high not seen for millions of years, threatening accelerated global heating
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced Monday that parts per million of carbon dioxide in our planet’s atmosphere averaged 424 ppm in the month of May, reaching a level not seen for millions of years. Continue reading »
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The wrongful conviction of Kathleen Folbigg: why did it happen and what must be done to stop it from happening again?
It is 41 years since Lindy Chamberlain was convicted for a non-existent crime, spent nearly five years in prison, and had her family life destroyed. Continue reading »
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War crimes? Don’t forget Jeju
Admitting guilt for war crimes doesn’t come easily to many nations, as Australia knows from our extended investigations of the activities of some ADF soldiers in Afghanistan more than a decade ago. Continue reading »
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Shattered Idol, synchronised drowning
The judgement on Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation case delivered a heavily damning summary of conduct. That would have come as little surprise to many; rumour abounded for a decade or more. Continue reading »
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Psy-ops warriors: Tiananmen Square and the media-pack
As a Hong Kong based columnist for much of his writing career Nury Vittachi was known for his persistent anti-Beijing slant. But no longer. What changed his mind was the mainstream media – the BBC in particular – coverage of the 2019 Hong Kong riots. Continue reading »