July 5, 2018

ANDREW GLIKSON. The rise of fascism on the sinking Titanic.

In her new book Fascism: A Warning (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I27X9L8rReo), Madeleine Albrights states that the Fascism of a century ago was not atypical: In hindsight, it is tempting to dismiss every Fascist of this era as a thoroughly bad guy or a lunatic, but that is too easy, also dangerous, she writes. Fascism is not an exception to humanity, but part of it. Anti-democratic leaders are winning democratic elections and some of the worlds savviest politicians are moving closer to tyranny with each passing year. Inherent in fascism are extreme nationalism, totalitarianism, racism, militarism a push for war, all of which are on the increase, including in the mainstream media, not uncommonly excelling itself in aiming derogatory comments at perceived adversaries, unverified false flags and personal smears. Strangely much of the Fourth Estate is expressing concern regarding US negotiations with North Korea and with Russia, even though such may temporarily avert the slide toward nuclear war and the demise of billions.

July 23, 2016

LYNDON MEGARRITY. Rex Patterson and the Whitlam Government

Dr Rex Patterson entered politics in 1966 by winning a by-election for the seat of Dawson as an ALP candidate on the platform of Northern Development. During Whitlams time as Opposition leader (1967-72), Patterson and Whitlam worked closely together on Northern Australia policies; Patterson also developed a media and parliamentary profile as Labors spokesman for rural affairs and Northern Development. As a federal public servant in the 1950s and 1960s, Patterson had developed expertise in sugar, pastoralism and other primary industries and was therefore well qualified to be Labors spokesman for these issues.

June 5, 2019

ANDREW HAMILTON. Revisiting Iola Mathews' feminist battlegrounds. (Eureka Street, 28.5.2019)

When people describe their part in events of our own life time, they often awaken in us recognition mixed with self-reproach. We recognise how greatly our attitudes have changed, but also that our images of significant people and movements are still tinged with our earlier prejudices.

November 4, 2018

University Research Under Veto

Veto action on certain successful Australian Research Council research proposals together with a proposal to establish a national interest test by federal Ministers for Education reflect poorly on the independence and integrity of university research and research training.

March 19, 2016

John Menadue. Asian refugees, the Rohingya and a regional refugee framework.

Despite hopes for a change of refugee policy in Australia, Malcolm Turnbull is faithfully following Tony Abbotts path in almost every respect. As in so many issues Malcolm Turnbull is not there when we need him.

The exaggeration of our refugee problems by Malcolm Turnbull and others shows up in UNHCR figures. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, regional countries face far greater problems over irregular movements and displaced people than we do. For example in 2015 Malaysia had 272,000 people of concern to the UNHCR. Thailand had 625,000. Indonesia had 13,000. Bangladesh had 233,000. Myanmar had 1.5 million. Australia had 58,000 people of concern to the UNHCR.

October 12, 2017

WALTER HAMILTON. Big changes mean more of the same in Japanese election

Early signs of trouble for the Abe government in Japan have seemingly evaporated under the more intense heat of election campaigning, and more of the same is now the likely outcome of the 22 October poll.

December 21, 2018

STEPHANIE DOWRICK. Glad tidings of great welcome

Among the most affecting, timeless stories known to us is that of a heavily pregnant, very young Jewish woman, barely more than a girl, making her way towards a town called Bethlehem, in an area of the Middle East then called Judea. She was accompanied by her husband, Joseph, although, as the story tells us, it was not he but the Holy Spirit who was the father of her child. This may be difficult to comprehend; it was for Joseph also, despite the reassurances of angels. What is far easier to grasp, even from the distance of two thousand years, is that these two courageous young people were far from their home and urgently in need of shelter.

August 2, 2020

Its a terrible thing to say, but Joel Fitzgibbon is rapidly turning into Labors answer to Barnaby Joyce

We hasten to add that we are not comparing him to the Beetrooters personal failings, but his drift away from the political mainstream.

January 9, 2019

ANDREW FARRAN. Brexit: Going for Broke?

Uproar and acrimony has resumed, even more intensely, over Brexit at Westminster this week on the resumption of Parliament following the Christmas break. The expectation, or rather hope, that members might have softened their hard lines after a due period of reflection and deeper thinking, in the national interest, have been sorely disappointed.

December 19, 2017

JOHN TULLOH. Onward Christian Soldiers but not all of them.

Communities throughout the world are torn by religious divides. Persecution of Christians, concentrated in but not unique to the Middle East, is commanding relatively little attention.

July 17, 2018

DAVID VAUX, PETER BROOKS, SIMON GANDEVEA. Weakened code risks Australias reputation for research integrity (The Conversation, 29.06.18)

In 2018, Australia still does not have appropriate measures in place to maintain research integrity. And recent changes to our code of research conduct have weakened our already inadequate position.

August 26, 2020

Transport infrastructure: our States biggest waste

The Reserve Bank governor recently asked States to support jobs by spending $40 billion more on infrastructure. Please dont at least not on the usual transport projects!

April 3, 2019

CAVAN HOGUE. Ukraine, clowns and comedians.

It looks very much like Ukraine will elect a TV comedian with no political experience as president. Since Australia is ruled by clowns at the moment we are hardly in a position to criticise!

December 30, 2019

YVONNE PATTERSON. An Australian Fairy Story for 2020: Religious Freedom

There comes a point in public discussion about policy or legislative proposals where academic analysis isnt enough to get to the heart of the matter.

October 27, 2019

The P5 must reaffirm that nuclear war cant be won and mustnt be fought (Strategist 15-10-19)

There are three sets of reasons for a palpable rise in nuclear anxieties around the world: growing nuclear arsenals and expanding roles for nuclear weapons, a crumbling arms-control architecture, and irresponsible statements from the leaders of some nuclear-armed states.

June 8, 2019

PETER SAINSBURY. Sunday environmental round up, 9 June 2019

The fossil fuel industries dont survive by chance or benign government neglect. Two recent reports expose the massive subsidies the industries receive from governments globally, including in Australia, and the multiple very close and enduring links between high-ranking personnel in Australias coal industry and the Coalition government. Many of us enjoy spending time in parks and they make a valuable contribution to reducing climate change and air pollution but they need to be carefully looked after to be welcoming and safe. Insects are disappearing from the earth at an alarming rate with potentially catastrophic consequences for humanity. Finally, a quiz about an interesting-looking critter.

November 16, 2018

GOOD READING AND LISTENING FOR THE WEEKEND

A regular collection of links to writings and broadcasts covered in other media.

January 27, 2016

John Tulloh. Middle East: The Arab Spring becomes the Arab Winter.

Arabs have rarely lived in bleaker times. The Economist.

An impoverished Arab would have been been flabbergasted at the consequences of his single, desperate protest five years ago. It precipitated the ousting of his countrys ruler and two other Arab leaders, the greatest upheaval and carnage of this century in one country, protests in others, a war in another and now acute anxiety in other Arab capitals that the same might happen to them. The Arab was Mohamed Bouazizi, a vegetable market trader in Tunisia who immolated himself in protest at harassment by local officialdom.

October 23, 2018

VIJAY PRASHAD. Khashoggi saga takes spotlight off Yemen tragedy.

By now, few doubt that Jamal Khashoggi is dead. It is most likely that the Saudi journalist who once advised kings and billionaires was killed by an interrogation team sent from Saudi Arabia to meet with him in Turkey.

This article was published by Asia Times on the 18th of October 2018.

November 26, 2018

MUNGO MACCALLUM. Morrison suffers mental congestion.

Scott Morrisons slogan of the week was congestion busting – he was in favour of it.

August 3, 2018

NICHOLAS GRUEN on Dunera Lives

I have reached a new stage in my life. It is the book-launching stage, first identified in Egyptian writings where it was called the “scroll rolling” stage of life, though we only know this second hand from Phoenician sources. At least judging from my experience, it comes upon one quite suddenly. I hadn’t launched any books until this May and nowI’ve launched two. Naturally, at my stage of life, I would be a fool not to make myself available foryour next book launch.

July 29, 2018

KUNWAR KHULDUNE SHAHID. Khan is saying the right things, but can he really deliver?

The ex-cricketer has already triumphed over 22 years of adversity, but there will be more pain ahead as he tackles an ailing economy and security issues

November 15, 2017

Tamie Fraser, Patron of the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre delivers a message to Peter Dutton

From twitter:

February 22, 2018

ELIZABETH EVATT. Democracy under challenge.

In their recent book, How Democracies Die, discussed this week on Late Night Live, Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt,outlined how democracies can be undermined and ultimately destroyed without the violent coup of Pinochet, but by abuse of the system itself. They address the problems of the United States. But we have to be on guard because some of the symptoms are starting to infect our own democracy in Australia.

November 28, 2017

ELIZABETH EVATT. Why not protect all our rights and freedoms?

The proposal to legislate for freedom of thought ,conscience and religion, as provided in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a half measure which would leave other rights and freedoms without equivalent protection. And it may not produce the result which is aimed at.

August 15, 2019

SOPHIE VORRATH. Clean Energy Regulator slams Murdoch solar scare campaign (Renew Economy 12-8-19)

Australias Clean Energy Regulator has called out the Murdoch media for inaccurate reporting on the standard and safety of rooftop solar installations, following the release of its latest national data on solar panel inspections in 2018.

June 13, 2019

ALI KAZAK. Another side of Bob Hawke

Bob Hawke was long known as a great friend of Israel, but in his years after retiring from Parliament, Icame to know him as person increasingly concerned about Palestinian rights and getting a fair peace deal for Palestinians and Israelis.

May 3, 2018

BEN GRAHAM Australia must warm to China or face economic punishment, expert claims

CHINA is not a rising power, it has already risen - and we can either embrace it now or face punishment, an expert says.

October 15, 2018

GREG JERICHO. Australia's climate idiocracy must end and there's no time to waste.

The Liberal partys biggest con was the idea that reducing emissions could be done without pain and at little cost.

January 6, 2020

GEORGE BROWNING.- How good are the fires?

The country clearly owes a debt of gratitude to the Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his government for their sterling leadership, their visionary approach in vastly changed and challenging circumstance and for their assurance that under their leadership all manner of things will be well.

November 4, 2018

Bill Shorten - where the bloody hell are you?

As the Morrison government stumbles from fumble to bungle on a daily basis, Labor leader Bill Shorten is keeping a low profile. Would this not be his turn to shine, or is he just biding his time?

November 26, 2015

John Thompson. The costly abolition of Medicare Locals

Despite promising to keep Medicare Locals, the Abbott government abolished the fledgling organisations after it took office.

Even when it had no clear policies or plans to replace them, the Abbott government seemed determined to undo many of the initiatives of the previous Labor government. This was certainly the case in relation to primary health care.

In 2008, the then Labor government established the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission(link is external) (NHHRC) to conduct a comprehensive review of Australias health system. The review provided the basis for the National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) signed by the Australian government and the states and territories in August 2011. The reforms set out in the NHRA had three main objectives:

October 29, 2019

GEOFF RABY.The China Threat leads to dead ends (Australian Financial Review, 29 October 2019)

The Australia-China relationship is at its lowest point since diplomatic relations began 46 years ago. This is something the Australian Government doesnt wish to discuss. Its diplomats are paid to put a positive spin on things. Elements of the conservative populist media almost rejoice in this state of affairs.

February 10, 2019

JOSEPH A. CAMILLERI. Just Peace: The only antidote to the age of violence Part 1

Endemic violence, the hallmark of the last hundred years, shows no sign of abating. The death toll resulting from war in the 20th century is 187 million and probably higher. The number of armed conflicts in the world has risen steadily since 1946 and now stands at 50 or more in any one year. In each case just war rhetoric has been invoked to defend the indefensible. It is time to shift our thinking and public discourse from ‘just war’ to ‘just peace’.

October 31, 2017

BRUCE MOUNTAIN. Energy prices are high because consumers are paying for useless, profit-boosting infrastructure

The preliminary report on energy prices released last week by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) suggests that the consumer watchdog is concerned about almost every aspect of Australias electricity industry. It quotes customer groups who say electricity is the biggest issue in their surveys, and cites several case studies of outrageous price increases experienced by various customers.

October 9, 2018

MICHAEL SAINSBURY. ScoMos Turnaround: Peter Dutton and Stuart Robert ride to the rescue

The Chronicles of a Fleeting Prime Minister

And so he sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from The Destruction. Then came the season of The Renewal, and now, The Turnaround is upon the people. With 50 days and 50 nights in office, PM Scott Morrison just smote the record of Arthur Fadden, our fourth shortest-serving PM, and is on his way to vanquish the fifth, Chris Watson. Michael Sainsburyreports.

January 30, 2018

GREG WOOD. The TPP-11 : Discarding Australias Sovereignty

The latest iteration of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) now comprises 11 countries, the US not included given President Trumps strongly stated, but not explained, aversion. The agreements revised text wont be made public until signature, scheduled to take place in Chile in early March. Wisely, the ALP Opposition in our Federal Parliament has said that it will make its judgement on it only after seeing that text. However it is clear that Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions remain in the revised agreement, though apparently they have been tweaked.

July 1, 2019

PATRICK BUCHANAN. Memo to Trump: Trade Bolton for Tulsi (The American Conservative)

For too long our leaders have failed us, taking us into one regime change war after the next, leading us into a new Cold War and arms race, costing us trillions of our hard-earned tax payer dollars and countless lives. This insanity must end.

Donald Trump, circa 2016?

October 24, 2018

GREG BAILEY. Is the instability in Australian politics reflected in the society and economy?

Australia has had six Prime Ministers since 2008, with the likelihood of a seventh in May 2019. Is this an index of instability in Australian politics and society, one perhaps marked also by the massive swing in last Saturdays Wentworth by-election? Is this instability a consequence of the emergence of a series of extremely ambitious, stubborn and vindictive individuals over the past decade, or is it something deeper which has penetrated the system and would continue even if such individuals were to be excluded or absent themselves from the political arena? Does it stand in contrast to the apparent stability of most levels of Australian society and economy?

May 4, 2018

Malaysia Calls On Authoritarian Regimes To Monitor Its Democratic Elections!

The Malaysian Election Commission has just issued a staggering list of seven countries which they say have taken up its offer to come and monitor the up-coming elections to ensure they are free and fair and free from fraud.

The list includes three of the worlds most authoritarian regimes; two countries described as Hybrid (part-authoritarian) by The Economist Democracy Index and two Flawed Democracies under the same index. One of the countries has just come out of a state of emergency following a blatant coup against the rule of law and is not even rated on the index.

February 25, 2018

DAVID NICHOLLS. We are the lobster

An increasing feeling of unreality is pervading the social environment. It has an almost dreamlike feel to it. Or perhaps one should say should say, “nightmare-like”.

December 1, 2017

GOOD READING AND LISTENING FOR THE WEEKEND ...

Australian shareholders should be told of climate risk to profits, says think tank

Triple J did the right thing: we need a new Australia Day - Henry Reynolds in The Conversation

Banks warned of ‘regulatory action’ as climate change bites global economy - the Guardian

Why South Australia must, and will, lead world on renewables - RenewEconomy

Stephen Hawkings promotes smart drugs - Jon Stewart in Forbes magazine

Behrouz Boochani exposed Australia’s evil on Manus. The shame will outlive us all | Richard Flanagan - the Guardian.

November 16, 2018

RICHARD TANTER and BUSINES INSIDER INDIA. Darwin, the Marines, and touring the American empire of bases

The idea of US imperialism may be seen as a fiction of the ideological left, or as an overblown presentation of the presence of a few US bases in different countries. But the US military does indeed operate on a global scale. Australia is far from a unique position in the US empire of military bases.

November 26, 2018

GREG BAILEY. State Labor Triumphs and Fear Campaigns Wilt

On Monday morning two days after the Victorian state election the ALP had 51 seats, the LNC 24, the Greens 1, other independents 1, with 11 still in doubt, but the outcome of which will not affect the Labor Partys massive majority. No doubt there will be considerable speculation as to the causes of this landslide. Even at this early stage we can ask whether it represents a general skepticism about the impression the Murdoch press has been trying to create about the lawless state of Victoria and the corruption of its Labor politicians.

March 20, 2019

MACK WILLIAMS : The Hanoi Summit and aftermath - a South Korean perspective

Special Advisor to President Moon assesses the Hanoi Summit as not a failure but a setback. China and the ROK continue to agree the need for a US:DPRK agreed roadmap to move past the present stalemate towards the longer term common objective of the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. At the same time the ROK has stepped up its working level contacts with the US. Prior to Hanoi, the ROK Opposition worked hard in Washington to urge Congress, the military security lobby and thinktanks to pressure President Trump to maintain a hardline approach in his negotiations with Kim Jong-un.

July 24, 2016

MICHAEL WESLEY. The dangerous politics of national security. (Repost from Policy Series)

In January 2013, as she launched her governments National Security Strategy, then Prime Minister Julia Gillard proclaimed that Australias decade of terrorism was over. Her argument was that al Qaeda had failed to regenerate after being degraded in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, and that there were other more conventional security issues, such as the rise of new Asian great powers, that would dominate the forward security agenda.

October 15, 2018

CATHERINE STUBBERFIELD. UNHCR urges Australia to evacuate off-shore facilities as health situation deteriorates.

The followingis a transcript of the remarks by Spokesperson for the UNHCR Regional Representation inCanberra, Catherine Stubberfield at today’s press briefing(12 October 2018) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

December 23, 2019

JOHN HENRY NEWMAN -Christmas Lessons

John Henry Newman was an Anglican priest who converted to Catholicism and who became very influential in the Catholic Church in England. He was highly educated, but had a simplicity about him that attracted many people. Newmans sermons in particular were very enlightening, geared at the common person, but steeped in spiritual insight.

For Christmas he highlighted two principal lessons, lowliness and joy, when reflecting on the shepherds on that Christmas night.

December 17, 2018

ALLAN PATIENCE. It's time to cleanse the Augean stables of corporate and political governance in Australia.

It will require a Herculean effort to clean out the greed, corruption, sense of entitlement, selfishness and ideological blindness at the commanding heights of Australias government, economy and society. The banking royal commission has exposed merely the tip of this ugly reality. In business, in the professions, in the media and in politics, many of those at the top are the custodians and reproducers of a culture that is morally fetid. They remain obsessed with themselves, their cronies, their salaries and bonuses, their perks of office.

Pearls and Irritations

John Menadue's Public Policy Journal