Letters to the Editor
International law vs RBO
February 17, 2025
Is there any way that I can persuade Pearls and Irritations to stop supporting the US' International Rules-Based Order and to, instead, support International Law? The two are not the same. The International Rules-Based Order is the US' attempt to supplant International Law with something meaningless and inconsistent that they can manipulate to say whatever they want from time to time. The relationship between International Law and the Rules-Based Order is examined here.
Susan Nolan from Sydney, NSW Australia
In response to: Paging the lady and the lamp
Start with bringing our ships and planes home
February 14, 2025
We could explain to the Australian public why our ships and planes are surveilling in international waters/airspace off the coast of China. Would we tolerate it in international waters off our coast?
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: the-need-for-australia-to-act-independently-and-be-freed
Do we read the documents we talk about?
February 13, 2025
Of all historical documents, The Balfour Declaration must hold the record for being the most often referred to and the least often read. The document reads: His Majesty's Government views with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people . . . it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country. The Declaration talks about a national home, in Palestine, for the Jews, while the...
Ian Bruce from Darlinghurst, NSW 2010
In response to: Israel and the dark legacy of Sir Mark Sykes
God and gender duality
February 13, 2025
One consideration to add to Eric Hunter’s excellent article on ‘Why doesn’t God save the day?’ is the apparent automatic assumption it is a male figure. No doubt it originates from ancient days when domination relied more on direct physical prowess rather than projectiles delivered from a distance. Any deity is likely to be a figurehead to all and not defined by gender. Perhaps there is a message in the recent amplified status by transgender people which may lead the faithful beyond the confines of conflict.
Tony McLean from Springwood, Blue Mountains
In response to: Why doesn't God Save the Day
Ita, a dose of integrity?
February 12, 2025
Perhaps Cold Chisel should alter the lyrics to their song Ita. or maybe they were just being sarcastic all along? Is her integrity the reason that another person of integrity, Scomo, picked her?
Jerry Cartwright from Perth
In response to: ABC cowardice vs Zionist blitzkrieg
Why only now see the reality?
February 12, 2025
Peter Varghese has finally recognised that the US has become a selfish bully and that its capacity to champion “our great strategic project” against China is in doubt. He says that while we should continue to enjoy the security from hanging out with the bully, it would be wise given US unpredictability “to recognise what we should have known all along” that we can’t leave our defence to others”. (Is this an apology for inability to advance this view when he was DFAT secretary?) What brings Varghese to his realisation are Trump’s statements about expanding US territory and...
John Wallace from Melbourne
In response to: Trump’s Gaza grab shows America is no better than China
Taiwan and Gaza
February 11, 2025
The situation with Taiwan and Gaza is not comparable. A total of 146 countries recognise Palestine (including Gaza) as a sovereign state that has never belonged to America or Israel. Almost every country recognises Taiwan as part of China (12 don't). Even America does. Those running Taiwan are not the original inhabitants, but forcibly overran it after losing a civil war. I believe that provoking China over Taiwan has more to do with China's massive economic growth than spreading freedom and democracy and mythical fairy stories of the rules-based order. Ask the previous inhabitants of Diego...
Jerry Cartwright from Perth
In response to: Trumps Gaza grab shows America is no better than China.
From the river to the sea
February 11, 2025
From the river to the sea is condemned as a racist and hateful policy. Given that it should be banned from Likud's founding documents, campaigns, and policies.
Jerry Cartwright from Perth
In response to: The future from the river to the sea remains bleak
Our future is in our hands
February 11, 2025
Peter Sainsbury illustrates a frightening truth. Australia, and for that matter, the rest of the world, is chasing its tail trying to reach net zero targets. The reason is multifaceted, but the underlying solution is simple; take the ominous consequences of global warming seriously and act accordingly. The question then becomes: is Australia capable of curbing its consumeristic lifestyle to haul in what is fast becoming runaway atmospheric warming? At this stage, we’ve shown no inclination to do so. Our business leaders and politicians seem yoked to population growth, which only compounds greenhouse gas emissions, but to be honest,...
John Mosig from Kew, Victoria 3101
In response to: Environment: Australia unlikely to play its proper part in keeping warming under
A golden opportunity for a determined government
February 11, 2025
Peter Sainsbury shocked me with his heading Environment Australia unlikely to play its proper part in keeping warming under 1.5 degrees C. Our PM and team should stick boldly to the decarbonising science; and try harder to explain to MPs and voters that this is the only true, effective path for a livable future on Earth. That path would also likely beat Dutton's nuclear energy as far too late, costly and with forever deadly radioactive waste. I consider that our government has a golden opportunity to make a strong stand now for doing the right thing for...
Barbara Fraser from Burwood, Vic
In response to: Environment: Australia unlikely to play its proper part in keeping warming under
Trump’s Gaza grab: America is no better than China
February 11, 2025
Peter Varghese's article has a number of factual inaccuracies which I would like to point out. 1. The so-called rules-based order crafted by the US mentioned in his essay is nothing but a self-serving way of relating to the world solely in its interests. The US never signed up to the United Nations' international Charter of Law. 2. Taiwan has been recognised internationally — even by the US — as being part of mainland China. This is not the case as far as Panama, Greenland, nor for that matter, Gaza. Thus the comparison is invalid.
Pamela Rothfield from Edithvale, Victoria
In response to: Trump’s Gaza grab shows America is no better than China
Peter Varghese's swipe at China
February 11, 2025
Peter Varghese's article takes a totally unneccesary swipe at China. China may be a one-party state, but it has managed to lift its population out of the depths of poverty into a modern welfare state. He may not like China's authoritarian regime (neither do I, by the way), but a huge majority of Chinese citizens elected it and it has the respect of most of its population. On the other side, America is rapidly evolving into a rogue state where might is right and money is king are the only criteria that matter. I am not a military expert,...
Hans Rijsdijk from Albion Park Rail
In response to: Trump's Gaza grab shows America .....
What’s really on the nose is politics
February 11, 2025
Forget about Musk or any other of the small, medium or large businesses; what is really on the nose is politics. The job of business is to make a profit and everything they do or say is, and should be, about making a profit. No matter how big or small they are, if it isn’t about making a profit they will not survive/prosper. The problem is that our politicians and our politics have lost sight of their job which is to govern without fear or favour for the good/betterment of all Australians without fear of not being re-elected....
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: musk-a-perfume-on-the-nose
Right-wing Advance and our elections
February 11, 2025
The right-wing lobby group Advance played a not insignificant role against the Voice, and it mounted a concerted campaign to defeat the sitting Greens candidate in Prahran’s recent by-election in Victoria. Advance is partly funded by a Liberal Party investment group which donated $500,000 in the last financial year. It was disturbing to read that the Victorian Electoral Commission felt obliged to seek a Supreme Court injunction against Advance for repeatedly defying election campaign rules. Disturbing not because of the actions of the VEC, but the response from Advance, who accused the VEC of “heavy-handed overreaction to Australians participating...
Fiona Colin from Melbourne
In response to: Australian electoral prospects
Tell 'im 'e's dreamin'
February 11, 2025
Bob McMullan's piece reads like he's trying to convince himself that Labor isn't doing as badly as it is. Whatever else is happening in the world, however bad the opposition is, by any measure Labor is a disappointment, at best. On climate and the environment it has performed particularly poorly, the backdown on gambling reform was pathetic, and not subjecting the whole AUKUS deal to thorough scrutiny was an abdication of responsibility. The list goes on. Talk to anyone vaguely interested in politics and the refrain is the same. Albanese is an inadequate prime minister, timid, spineless, lacking...
Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122
In response to: Australian electoral prospects
Well-written report
February 11, 2025
Congratulations on a well-written article. I am a 62-year-old white Australian and have to agree with all aspects of the article. Particularly with the outside influences aggravating the Australian public who are not very smart or introspective in the first place. The problem is how do you make a politician who is left- or right-wing and probably being paid in some manner by the perpetrators to see clearly the falsity that is obvious? A great article.
Michael Hagen from PROSERPINE
In response to: Australian society has never really been a cohesive entity, it may be unravellin
Trump saves the subs
February 10, 2025
What Australia needs: Another Trump light bulb moment where he decides that Biden/Morrison did a dumb deal (he may well take our money and tell us to p*** off but in the long run thatwill be cheaper). A hung parliament in which Dutton won’t work with the independents. Richard Marles to lose his seat. The Future made in Australia to kick in. It is standard Trump/defence business practice to quote low and once the build reaches critical mass the customer has no choice but to hold on and pay up and go along for...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: aukus-ssn-a-flawed-plan-heading-for-the-wrong-destinatio
ABC cowardice vs Zionist blitzkreig
February 10, 2025
The Lattouff court case exposes, once again, the craven subservience of Australian Government, its instrumentalities, and of course, the mainstream media (aka the Murdochracy). So much dissembling, so much obfuscation, so much plain BS. So much genuflection to the obscene demands of the Zionist lobby. Ita Buttrose, a person of (questionably, but let that pass) veneration, reduced to the status of a messenger of the gods of the Zionist Lobby industry. Since when has it been a personal opinion, attacking Israel to quote, with attribution, the stated finding of a respected international organisation? Since when has it been...
Richard Llewellyn from Colo Vale 2575 NSW
In response to: Arab organisations slam ABC over refusal to acknowledge Lebanese race
Rough road to a sustainable future
February 10, 2025
Hope in a crisis is the drowning man’s straw: people grasp it, however unlikely it may seem, and cling to it. So it is with the climate crisis. We have scientists arguing powerfully, passionately, for the urgent action that we still need to preserve a liveable Earth. This gives hope, in the face of ever-worsening expectations. Trainer argues that those hopes are doomed, unable to overcome the greed of capitalism before capitalism itself collapses under its own internal contradictions. He pins his hopes, instead, on small, self-sufficient, co-operative groups. The approach he advocates for — he calls it The...
Chris Young from Surrey Hills, VIC
In response to: The situation – and why we can’t fix it
Comcare prosecution over Robodebt turned down
February 10, 2025
Comcare referred a case about Robodebt under S.19.2 of the Commonwealth Occupational Health and Safety Act to the CDPP. That section covers the duty of care to those affected by the work of a person (natural or corporate) in control of a business or undertaking, and includes the Commonwealth government. Comcare says the CDPP declined to prosecute because it saw little chance of a conviction.
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: ‘Before, during and after’: Deception at the heart of Australia’s anti-corruptio
Escalators and headlines
February 10, 2025
Ever since Donald Trump took that elevator ride in 2015, he has made an art form of generating headlines. He says something outrageous and then watches as the world's media and assorted pundits put him on the front page. They buy into it time after time after time. They're doing it now. Own Gaza? With neither US military nor US money being used? How will that work? The Palestinians have resisted Israel. Why would they not resist the Yanks? Also, no Arab or Muslim nation has indicated any willingness to accept two million disgruntled migrants. And why would...
Hal Duell from ALICE SPRINGS
In response to: Trumps plan for Gaza heralds an age of naked fascism/
Weasel word BS is alive and well in universities
February 10, 2025
I just thought I'd let you know that I stopped reading this article as soon as I got to the bit where it says McKay wants secretary and senior-level public service remuneration to be 'well calibrated to the correct private sector analogues'. What is it with academics that they must twist language into some sort of contortions to make a point? Why couldn't this bloke McKay, who is obviously an idiot, just say he wants senior-level public servant pay to mirror the private sector, or to be similar to the private sector? Well calibrated to the correct...
Wes Mason from Gisborne
In response to: Public Servant's Pay
It's time for a balanced parliament
February 10, 2025
The mystery will always remain: Why did Albanese appease his Coalition opponents while haemorrhaging votes from his supporters? Moving on, I suggest Dutton and the LNP would be infinitely worse. The Trump playbook, divisiveness, lack of policies and policy detail, lack of transparency, lies and personal attacks on opponents at both federal and electorate level - no good lies down that path. So the big question is: What are we going to do about it? Please... vote deliberately for a hung/balanced parliament. Community independents have already shown teeth and backbone in calling the major parties to account....
Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122
In response to: ‘Before, during and after’: Deception at the heart of Australia’s anti-corruptio
Disappointed with our leaders
February 10, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this article and share Barb's disappointment in our political leaders. Australia seems to be going off course. The tragedy is that in a recent election, Bill Shorten tried to offer solutions to many of her concerns, but was unsuccessful with many short-sighted Australians. When Murdoch controls 80% of the media and has other ideas, many of his readers are misled about the precarious situation. Murdoch's minions and lackeys are pushing a separate dangerous and backward agenda. The legacy media meekly wades in the swamp. The other tragedy is that our political system is broken and not...
Tim Reeve from 52 Bungaloe Ave Balgowlah 2093
In response to: Comment re Barb Dadd's article " Where is the real choice"
The collapse of the capitalism model
February 7, 2025
Ted Trainer's article provides a timely warning that the current model of greed encased in capitalism is nearing its logical end. I have been involved in the recycling and zero waste movements and their refinement over the last 35 years. Despite highlighting the urgent need for change little happens. Every time a move is made to minimise the harm to the environment, such as plastics recycling, container recovery, alternate energy or safer and improved quality food production, the current capital model steals the concept and incorporates it into the greed structure to generate more income for the current investment...
Gerry Gillespie from Queanbeyan NSW
In response to: The situation - and why we can't fix it
Trump's diaspora
February 6, 2025
Reading P&I on Trump's latest mad plan to resettle the inhabitants of Gaza somewhere else so he can build hotels and golf courses, I was struck by an historic parallel. The last chap to try this was Sargon II, boss of Assyria, who came down on the local inhabitants like a wolf on the fold, his cohorts gleaming in purple and gold and scattered them to the four winds, an event known in Jewish history as the diaspora. That was 2750 years ago and led directly to the present mess that is Israel/Palestine. So if Trump has his...
Julian Cribb from Canberra, ACT
In response to: Trump’s plan for Gaza heralds an age of naked fascism
Yes Minister 2
February 6, 2025
For some time, my teacher mate sang the virtues of the US system where the president got to tap into the expertise of highly credentialled people from all around the country when appointing heads of departments and I must admit that I didn’t disagree with him. Then came Trump who unashamedly appointed mates. So much for that idea. In Australia, with its ongoing war against anything old that works, we too started to appoint highly paid (unlike with workers where qualifications and capability are not portional to the amount you're paid) experts as heads of departments on contract....
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: public-servants-pay-lambies-on-the-money
Understanding intent in genocide
February 6, 2025
Gerard Gill's statement: intent being determined by multiple statements from officials is legal fantasy. Intent is established by acts or omissions, not by words. If a reasonable person would understand that there was a strongly probable, indeed, near certain consequence of an act or omission, that establishes intent. She who deliberately puts death cap mushrooms in the beef Wellington commits murder, (allegedly). The act proves intent. If a reasonable person would understand that a near certain consequence of Israel's obliteration of Gaza, cutting off water, food, medical supplies, the use of starvation as a means of warfare, the...
Rick Pass from Glen Iris, Victoria
In response to: Lone soldiers, lone wolves: Are IDF returnees a security threat?
The X factor
February 6, 2025
I have been banned from X and am unable to peruse any five-minute scroll items. X claims I have sent prohibited comment to it for which I am banned. I have never used X. I responded to their ban email by saying I have never wanted to be treated as a user of X and am happy to be excluded by them. However, if the five-minute scroll continues to use them as material, I will not be able in future to be able to access it. I have been a user of P&I for over 10 years...
William Bradley from SOUTH MELBOURNE
In response to: five minute scroll
Trump removal of support for climate action and aid
February 6, 2025
What if China decided to fund the organisations (humanitarian aid, climate change support) from which Trump has withdrawn support? What a coup this would be! How would Trump react? I feel the Chinese are now rich enough to take this up. If they did so, how would the Western powers react? It would really change the world's perception of China.
Doug Foskey from Tregeagle
In response to: https://publish.pearlsandirritations.com/strong-leaders-versus-inspiring-leaders-australias-curre
There is a real choice at this election
February 6, 2025
Contrary to Barb Dadd's pessimism, I believe there is a real choice at the coming federal election and that is the Australian Greens. The Greens have policies which address all the issues that concern the author and I encourage your readers to check the Australian Greens website for a thorough summary of Greens' policies. The Greens have been criticised by many commentators for blocking Labor-initiated legislation in the Parliament, but in all cases they have been trying to improve that legislation so that it is more effective and delivers greater benefits to the community as a whole and particularly...
Les Mitchell from Port Macquarie NSW
In response to: Where is the real choice when it comes to the election?
Unhinged proposals for Gaza
February 6, 2025
Like Larry Stillman, most of us don't want to see a rise in hate towards any group of people here. But for Donald Trump to reiterate a plan during Netanyahu's visit that Palestinians should just vacate Southwest Palestine is unhinged. What can that do but create even greater tensions, with their spillover in Australia and elsewhere? What then will he propose for Northeast Palestine? Hitler's plans for Poland to provide Lebensraum have an eerie echo in Trump's statements. Jewish organisations in Australia, which are hopefully fundamentally driven by moral imperatives, would be best served by proposing a much...
Geoff Taylor from Perth
In response to: No community can be blamed for the actions of a few individuals
DeepSeek
February 6, 2025
The response to DeepSeek was predictable. It is stolen, it is untrue, it is expensive, it is a psyops exercise and, if not any of these, then it is a threat to Western civilisation that deserves to be blocked immediately. And in a typical response, the CIA promptly did a massive DDoS attack on it using Vault 7, its cyberwar weapon.
Andrew Nichols from Otepoti Dunedin, Aotearoa NZ
In response to: Western commentators still unable to see the advances in China
How the Chinese system deals with the next phase
February 6, 2025
I watch as the US rushes towards the abyss, taking the Western world and the planet and democracy with it. With limited news coverage, I admire what China and the Chinese system of government has achieved. The world cheered at the fall of the Soviets and their communist system, not realising that the US and its ongoing worldwide wars and capitalism was in decline. Some thought that a benevolent dictatorship was the ideal government; the US is racing towards dictatorship without benevolence. I have no doubt that the rise of Chinese manufacturing and technology has had a positive...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: Western-commentators-still-unable-to-see-the-advances-in
They didn't come to pillage
February 6, 2025
They didn't come to pillage, claims the woman who pillaged thousands of taxpayers' dollars.
Jerry Cartwright from Perth
In response to: coalition mindlessness and the colonising of Australia
Significant differences between Labor govt and Dutton LNP
February 6, 2025
It is inaccurate to use the popular and populist formulation all politicians — or parties — are the same. Labor may have been disappointing on international matters – continued AUKUS expensive folly, failure to stand up to the ruling Israeli false narrative etc. Yet it has achieved many reforms: prescription costs, improved bulk billing support, after-hours medical centres, childcare costs, childcare training, apprentice training, numerous industrial relations reforms, housing developments (after a long Greens delay), support for renewables, moves towards Gonski levels in public education, reducing HECS debt, WFH right to disconnect etc etc Populist anti-political thought fosters...
Stephen Alomes from Melbourne
In response to: Where is the real choice when it comes to the election?
Is the Old Testament Christianity?
February 6, 2025
Growing up in a Protestant Christian household, I have been unable to understand the emphasis/equal billing given to the Old Testament teachings at church. Christian teachings such as those mentioned get barely a mention in and out of churches while the vengeful god of the Old Testament is often quoted. “Eye for an eye”etc I see the big players in the Old Testament as the “Who do you think you are“ class. So often the real Christian, caring, sharing, non-judgmental people remain working hard, at the bottom, caring for the needy, wearing their old suits and dresses, never qualifying...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: The-widows-mite-a-call-to-justice-not-sacrifice/
Limitation of 'physics emulating' economics
February 5, 2025
In connection with Ross Gittins important article Want more economics students? Drop the obsession with maths the more fundamental question is the utility of this approach in the social sciences to ape the gold standard for being a science — assumed to be physics — by describing the area under study via mathematical relationships. The blog of Real World Economics Review, as well as posting items on current economics matters, also has those that address the weaknesses in mainstream economic mathematical modes. Lars Syll is a regular and pertinent contributor on this issue; most recently How evidence is...
Bob Aikenhead from Victoria
In response to: Want more economics students? Drop the obsession with maths
Exposing the IDF's AI-enabled barbarity
February 5, 2025
As background to Keith Mitchelson's timely alert about the recent NYT article, P&I readers will find a report from April 2024 by Yuval Abraham in +972 magazine (online) of great interest. Interviews with IDF members who had served in Gaza detailed the use of two software systems used to murder Palestinians. Lavender collated data from numerous sources to provide target lists, while Where's Daddy? provided location detail for the actual attack. As with the NYT report the full article should be read by all.
Bob Aikenhead from Victoria
In response to: Why did the IDF reveal all to The New York Times?
The elephant in the nuclear room
February 4, 2025
The fate of nuclear energy in a hung parliament is just one more article that fails to address the forever problem of nuclear waste. Until such time as nuclear proponents can 100% guarantee safe and forever disposal of nuclear waste, they shouldn't bother to leave their drawing boards.
Margaret Callinan from Hawthorn VIC 3122
In response to: The fate of nuclear energy in a hung parliament
Do economists know anything about economics?
February 4, 2025
Watching a variety of economists on a variety of TV shows, I have my doubts if economists know anything about the economy or if any two economists or politicians agree on anything. None of them seem to understand even the most basic concept that if you don’t have an income you can’t build / do / supply / repair anything. Take it as a given that nobody wants to pay taxes and everybody wants services . No matter how you dress it up, whatever you promise has to be paid for either by taxes, loans or substandard services....
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: want-more-economics-students-drop-the-obsession-with-mat
NYT were not the first
February 4, 2025
Like almost all your articles, this one deserves a much wider readership than it will probably get. However I'd like to mention that it is in error in its claim that the NYT were the first to report this. It may be true they were the first to interview those particular anonymous IDF soldiers but the claims made have been reported in a number of independent media outlets. In particular, I remember reading such reports in +972 magazine [www.972mag.com], an Israeli publication run as a co-operative with both Jewish and Palestinian staff and contributors, who were also the first...
Terry Constanti from Annandale NSW
In response to: Why did the IDF reveal all to The New York Times?
What about Robodebt?
February 3, 2025
Your correspondent from Gladstone Park informs us that hackers got into his Centrelink account and stole his pension. He postulates that this would not have happened under a conservative government. We all sympathise with him and lament the stress this crime has caused him; but, has he forgotten Robodebt where the Conservative government itself did the stealing, leading to the suicides of far too many?
Paul Fergus from Croydon 2132
In response to: Mainstream media fails to mention positive labor policies
The biggest hoax of all is democracy
February 3, 2025
We don’t live in a democracy, we live in a capitalist society and have done since the beginning of the illusion of democracy. There have been short-lived periods of democratic waves of revolution barely tolerated by the old money. The climate revolution is drawing to a close as the oligarchs take back control to defend their mega money income streams. The old money media and mining moguls of the past have integrated the modern day Internet and tech moguls. We are yet to see which tech billionaires will survive . The rapidly emerging Trump dictatorship is all part...
Bob Pearce from Adelaide SA
In response to: hoaxes-that-gush-for-winners-and-trickle-down-for-losers
Our human footprint
February 3, 2025
In 1969, those who watched the “one giant leap for mankind” witnessed the end product of America’s determination to outsmart the Russians. Exactly how did “mankind” benefit from making that eternal shoe print on the moon? It was a huge engineering undertaking, but as Peter Sainsbury points out, nothing like the feat we must pull off to keep Earth habitable. With no adversary to compete against except our greed, Rupert Murdoch suggests those living in areas of coastal erosion and rising seas simply retreat. Musk has given up on Earth and is going to live on Mars. Trump promises...
Fiona Colin from Melbourne
In response to: Environment: one giant leap for mankind was nothing
Are the right questions being asked?
February 3, 2025
It is politically expedient to argue children should be punished for their crimes. But more needs to be studied on the reasons those children behaved they way they did. Too often those studies are dismissed for being soft on those kids – that more discipline is needed. But the environment in which they begin life may hinder social development and the acquisition of goals (not gaols). More studies could gain knowledge on their family life, community life, education that reaches out to them, inclusively, and health services that also ensures they eat well. Were any of the children belted...
Ian Bowrey from Hamilton South
In response to: Youth Justice - punishment or prevention
Labor government achievements
February 3, 2025
Reading Jenny Hocking’s article about positive achievements of the Labor government, I couldn’t help but think that perhaps one of its positive achievements has been to make it easier for criminals to hack into the my.gov.au site and steal the money of pensioners. Last year on 7 November, my Centrelink account was hacked and my aged pension was stolen. By contrast if I were to take an extra dollar from Centrelink that I was not entitled to, I could be certain that I would be caught. But the hacker can be sure that he will never be caught ....
Vikein Mouradian from Gladstone Park
In response to: Mainstream media fails to mention positive labor policies
Time for compassionate change
February 3, 2025
I agree with Sue Barrett's article. I have felt for some time that we seem to be approaching an apocalypse such as was seen in the Great Depression: a tiny majority controlling the world's wealth (spoken a a whitey who is comfortable!). I have been saying for years that there needs to be another compassionate change in society such as was seen during the ´Flower Power´ revolution of the 1970s. During that time, we established Medicare, free tertiary education, and many other social reforms that since seem to be openly derided (whilst the commentors still accept the largess of...
Doug Foskey from Tregeagle
In response to: Humanity’s operating system has been infected By Sue Barrett
DeepSeek challenges US capitalism
February 2, 2025
In their article on DeepSeek, Wanning Sun and Marina Yue Zhang fail to understand the most important aspect of DeepSeek – it is open source. They repeat the irrelevant criticism that as it stands, politically sensitive words and questions seem to be no-go areas. As it is open source, its source code is available for anyone and the updated versions will simply remove this problem. What terrifies the American elite most is that DeepSeek yet again shows that the Chinese economic model can out-perform the American proprietary form of capitalism. DeepSeek is the latest example but the writing...
Paul Malone from Ocean Grove
In response to: DeepSeek’s success challenges assumptions about Chinese tech companies – and the