John Menadue, and the late Susie Menadue, did an incomparable job in conceiving, establishing, growing and nurturing Pearls and Irritations as a brave and independent alternative to the conformity of Australia’s legacy media.

The masthead of Pearls and Irritations declares that it is a public policy journal. And it is that – a publication with a deep and unwavering interest in the development and implementation of government policy. But it is also much more. It is also a source of ideas of what could be and should be, of different ways of thinking about governance and about Australia’s place in the world.

Now, after 13 hard but rewarding years at the helm of P&I, and at the age of 91 years, John is stepping back. He will, however, continue to write for the journal, offering readers the benefit of his experience and wisdom, and he will continue to offer guidance in his role as a director of the Pearls and Irritations company. John will, of course, always have a honoured place as the Founder.

The leadership is changing but the important aspects of Pearls and Irritations, its values and concerns – its direction – remain constant, true to the spirit that John and Susie breathed into it from the start.

At the heart of P&I is critical analysis of government policy, at a time when the legacy media is more interested in horse-race political reporting than in the hard work of examining the value, or otherwise, of government programs and strategies.

The fetish for secrecy and creeping authoritarianism of the Australian polity run counter to the democratic value of transparent governance and human values of justice and compassion must also be weighed in the scales of policy formulation.

Australia is a federation of democracies and the rule of law, freedom of speech and association, and rejection of all forms of racism, are bedrock values. Genocide is the most lethal and cruel manifestation of racism.

And the Canberra-consensus of the political-and-media class that burdens Australia’s defence policy, and the foreign policy that stumbles along behind it, deny the value of employing an independent Australian spirit to earn our place in the world.

Pearls and Irritations brings a progressive viewpoint to the public debate. Its values include informed and open governance that is led by evidence, not vested interests; the right to exercise traditional freedoms; a non-racist multicultural society; and an independent stance abroad. These are unchanging.

I feel honoured to have been appointed editor-in-chief of Pearls and Irritations and I am keenly aware of the depth of the challenge of trying to match the standards John set. As I live in Asia, I will bring to the role a sense of how our region sees Australia and I will continue to write the regular Asian Media Report. I will also bring a detached view of Australia, removed from the follies of Australian politics.

One final pledge: P&I will remain free to its readers, while declining to accept to advertising and any funding from government or business.