July 2, 2023

Environment: Invasive animals and plants are the main killers of our native ones

Invasive species, including pet cats, have been and remain the major cause of extinctions in Australia. ‘Net zero emissions’ sounds good but is it just a greenwashing delaying tactic?

June 22, 2023

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.

June 7, 2023

Shangri-la Dialogue: some Americans just don’t get China

Prime Minister Albanese spoke moderately and positively at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore last weekend, although his address didn’t really live up to its prior publicity. However the main impression from the exchanges at the Dialogue was of the differences between the US and China. Amazingly, the American Secretary of Defence didn’t seem to realise that the US continuing to keep the Chinese Defence Minister on some kind of sanctions black-list would affect the latter’s willingness to engage in bilateral talks.

June 4, 2023

Environment: Who are the green groups pocketing dirty dollars?

Fossil fuel companies burnish their image with environmental sponsorships. Lakes and reservoirs drying up around the globe. China dominates the production of solar panels.

May 28, 2023

We love you gas, we do. Oh gas, we love you

Sycophantic ministers cosy up to the gas industry. Electricity from renewables will soon match increasing demand for electricity. Will sodium replace lithium in batteries?

May 1, 2023

The USA and Australia fail on climate change

Nearly two years ago relief was expressed that the USA had emerged under President Biden to offer world leadership on climate change. Sadly this leadership has been a disappointment and today both the US and other high emitters such as Australia are not on track to meet the challenge.

September 7, 2021

China policy takes centre stage as Japan's ruling party searches for new leader

Elections to select a new leader for Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) could finally see some clarity over Tokyo’s policy towards China.

June 25, 2021

Australia’s high house prices damage economic productivity, financial stability and equity

Recent discussion has highlighted how rising house prices are rationing growing numbers of younger Australians into rental housing and lifestyle choices falling short of aspirations. Now there are warnings that future falling homeownership rates across most age cohorts could hit the NSW Government’s budget balance.

January 29, 2021

Confected outrage all in a day's work for News

A lesson in skewing the conversation; Morrison’s gloss wearing thin?; promoting US election conspiracy theories; and kid-glove treatment for Gladys.

January 12, 2021

There’s a term for what happened at the Capitol this week: ‘whitelash’ (Politico 9.1.21)

The whiplash from the Georgia elections to the storming of the Capitol mirrored a familiar pattern in US history of Black advancement followed by white backlash.

November 20, 2020

Academic engagement with China is not a security risk: it is an investment in a shared more liberal world

The Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Bill 2020 currently before the Parliament would require State and Territory entities to seek the approval of the Minister for Foreign Affairs for any proposed ‘arrangement’ with a ‘core foreign entity’; existing ‘arrangements’ would also be subject to approval. The bill may be presented as ‘country agnostic’ but there is little doubt that its intent is to constrain ‘arrangements’ State and Territory entities have with China in particular. Included in the definition of ‘entities’ are universities.

October 19, 2020

Tamed Estate: Poor Gladys

Last week in the Tamed Estate, ICAC’s inquiry into former politician Daryl Maguire whose revelations about NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian completely overshadowed Kevin Rudd’s spectacular petition to set up a royal commission into the Murdoch press. Also, international propaganda efforts by the UK and US are being swept under the rug.

February 27, 2019

BOB DOUGLAS : Towards a proper policy on asylum seekers

Last month, the Victorian prize for literature and the Victorian Premier’s prize for non-fiction work were awarded to an Iranian refugee, Behrouz Boochani, for his book, “No friend but the mountains: Writing from Manus prison."

July 6, 2024

US ready to play ‘Tibet card’ – Asian Media Report

In Asian media this week: Dangerous turn adds new anti-Beijing flashpoint. Plus: Bangkok banks used to supply Myanmar military; Why Hindu nationalists back Israel; Thais opt for neutrality in great-power war; How to stop China slipping into Japan trap; Online gambling an Indonesian epidemic.

May 28, 2024

Israel massacres children, which the Western Press says is fine

Israel has not only completely disregarded the orders of the International Court of Justice to cease its assault on Rafah as we expected it to do, but has actually ramped up its ruthlessness as though trying to make a point. There were reportedly more than 60 Israeli airstrikes on the southernmost city in the Gaza strip in the 48 hours after the ICJ ruling, including a horrifying massacre on a displacement camp full of civilians in tents.

April 25, 2023

AUKUS this ANZAC Day

‘I’m proud of what we did in less than 24 hours.’ That was Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s 4 March comment this year on the time he took back in 2021 to decide on supporting the then Liberal government’s startling AUKUS agreement.

July 12, 2022

NSW awaits a momentous decision on housing development on floodplains

When it comes to the management of weather-related disasters like floods, governments can be relied upon to act in only two circumstances – catastrophe or repetition.

April 17, 2022

Easter celebrates life – and peace

One of the most beautiful names given to Jesus is “Prince of Peace”. So why do Christian churches support conflict so enthusiastically – including bitter conflict between denominations and sects, and armed conflict between nations?

July 28, 2021

Covid, demonstrations and the claim for rights

Like many others, I was angered by the anti-lockdown protests last weekend. I was surprised at the enthusiasm with which I cheered on the police and wanted people to dob in anyone they recognised in the mobs gathered in Sydney and Melbourne streets.

June 21, 2021

Adventures in incompetence - Witness K sentenced

_This whole farce is more about protecting the real criminals in the case, those politicians and public servants who devised and planned, enabled and financed the shameful act of spying on the Timorese people.

June 1, 2021

Biden: Moon Summit- Little new on DPRK but significant bilateral issues.

Last week’s meeting in Washington between Presidents Biden and Moon was the second summit hosted by Biden since his inauguration, following that with Japanese Prime Minister Suga. While not very much new on the North Korean front emerged the atmosphere surrounding it was remarkably more congenial and workmanlike than Moon’s previous meetings with former President Trump. Moon remained very meticulous in any public commentary about China but some significant bilateral business was achieved.

January 18, 2021

Diplomacy's pointy end. Chinese vaccines in Indonesia.

The choreography was about reassurance. A well-masked Indonesian President Joko Widodo sitting before a large red sign saying AMAN dan HALAL – meaning safe and approved for Muslims. Alongside stood Palace doctor Professor Abdul Muthalib ready to show 270 million citizens that the Chinese Covid-19 vaccine Sinovac was OK.

December 14, 2020

Who are we now? – Sovereignty and confidence

It’s gone a bit quiet this week, with our federal parliamentarians deciding to keep their heads down and not further antagonise their Chinese Government counterparts. But it was curious observing the Australian reaction and outrage expressed – and on balance rightly – about China’s demands that would impinge on our sovereignty and independence.

March 14, 2018

SAM BATEMAN. No need to rock the boat in the South China Sea.

In the wake of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s visit to Washington, there has been _renewed pressure_ for Australia to undertake assertive freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) in the South China Sea. It has also been suggested that _France and the United Kingdom_ should undertake joint patrols in the South China Sea to push back against China.

August 6, 2024

Is the government fair dinkum? Response to the Royal Commission

I am not surprised by the disappointment felt by people with disability and their advocacy groups concerning what appears to be the Commonwealth Government’s limp-wristed and overly cautious response to the Disability Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

August 3, 2024

The Tent of Nations, a place of hope

One Palestinian farming family’s story.

September 28, 2023

Mission to free Assange: Australian Parliamentarians in Washington

It was a short stint, involving a six-member delegation of Australian parliamentarians lobbying members of the US Congress and various relevant officials on one issue: the release of Julian Assange. If extradited to the US from the United Kingdom to face 18 charges, 17 framed with reference to the oppressive, extinguishing Espionage Act of 1917, the Australian founder of WikiLeaks risks a 175-year prison term.

April 27, 2023

Australia’s remarkable current account surplus

In recent years, commencing in the pre-COVID period, Australia’s balance of payments has consistently recorded a surplus on the current account. This has confounded some commentators, especially those who followed the compelling ‘debt and deficit’ (and especially the ‘twin deficits’) narrative that emerged in the mid-1980s. Does it mean that that narrative should no longer haunt Australian policy makers? Or is there something even more concerning at play?

August 14, 2022

The demonisation of China in the US goes on and on

In a recent exchange in the comments section of a United States media publication that is dedicated to a civil exchange of views and to abjuring the demonisation of differing views that is so common in the US, I found nonetheless a deeply entrenched demonisation of China.

July 14, 2022

Another word on the sadness and madness of the language of the ‘one-in-100-years’ flood

Not even the Premier of New South Wales understands the meaning of the term the ‘one-in-100-years’ flood. Nor does the Prime Minister, who this week repeated the Premier’s misguided words on it.

April 27, 2022

The Politics of Musk

Elon Musk’s rocket is about to dock with Twitter. Musk’s deal to take over Twitter, and take it private, is not only at $US 44 billion the biggest business coup of its type of the century so far, but inevitably, given the nexus of Big Tech with Washington, and the role social media plays in our lives and throughout society, it is a political blockbuster as well.

August 5, 2021

Why don’t farmers just raise wages to get workers?

_Are powerful retailers who set farm prices the real problem in keeping wages down?

February 11, 2021

Tunnel vision: the media’s love affair with Craig Kelly and conflict

The media’s focus on divisive figures like Craig Kelly simply excuses the equally dangerous views of his less vocal, climate change denying colleagues. It is on these politicians that the media should focus.

September 13, 2024

'The Bibi Files': Documentary reveals the police interrogations behind Netanyahu’s graft trial

FRANCE 24 reviews “The Bibi Files”, a new documentary by filmmakers Alexis Bloom and Alex Gibney, which features never-before-seen footage of Israeli police interrogating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his family and his inner circle on corruption allegations. The documentary was screened as a work-in-progress at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival on Monday, hours after a Jerusalem court rejected a petition by Netanyahu to block the screening.

September 8, 2024

The sound of enforced silence

Our censors, as the record shows again and again, have no special concern about acting in a serious manner. Power has no such obligation.

August 25, 2024

Malaysia needs ASEAN to navigate a pathway between ‘the West’ and ‘the rest’

_Malaysia’s 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship is an opportunity to provide clear regional leadership amid shifting geopolitics, but the country’s strategic goals remain uncertain despite a growing perception of closer alignment with China. Malaysia should focus on enhancing ASEAN centrality, balancing local sentiment against global interests, and sustaining ties with all major regional powers including the US, EU, and Japan to demonstrate regional leadership, strengthen ASEAN, and further the interests of Southeast Asia.

August 13, 2024

Neither treaty nor pact, just troubling facts

ABC foreign affairs reporter __Stephen Dziedzic____’s__ __’exclusive’__ claim that “Australia and Indonesia are on the brink of sealing an upgraded defence pact” hasn’t been refuted by Defence so is probably right.

July 22, 2024

Cartoon Commentary

August 6, 2023

AUKUS dissent has ALP power-brokers worried

Over twenty ALP branches around Australia have now passed anti-AUKUS resolutions and the list is growing by the day.

July 19, 2023

The Native Mounted Police: extermination on the Australian frontier

Native Mounted Police took a leading part in conflict on the Australian frontier. As police they are supposedly ineligible to be included in the Australian War Memorial: but why not? They acted as mercenary cavalry, Australia’s own extermination squads.

August 23, 2022

The independent New South Wales flood inquiry has landed

The much-awaited report of the Independent NSW Flood Inquiry has been released.

August 5, 2022

Dr. Strangelove in the Ukraine - US strategy in the Cold War against Russia

_The RAND Corporation is a US think-tank that describes itself as a research organisation ‘that develops solutions to public policy challenges to help make communities throughout the world safer and more secure, healthier and more prosperous.’

August 4, 2022

Time to listen to the Voice (and act) is now!

_Let us be quite clear about the Constitution and the Voice. The Commonwealth Parliament already has the power to legislate to bring the Voice into effect, one of the wishes/demands of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

September 1, 2021

When is a Cabinet not the Cabinet? When the Prime Minister says that it is

Senator Rex Patrick has won the right to access documents from the National Cabinet. Scott Morrison should never have tried to keep them secret.

June 3, 2021

Classic 100: “The music you can’t live without” on the ABC, which we can't live without.

Detractors of the ABC might not appreciate how important it is to them personally. Apart from the obvious news and current affairs, a constant major pleasure for us comes from ABC Classic FM. At the moment they are conducting their 2021 Classic 100 countdown. Voting is underway until Monday 7 June. The countdown itself will be broadcast throughout the weekend of June 12 and 13.

August 8, 2024

Better and fairer schools – in a sea of inequity?

The title of the new plan for school education, the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, might come back to haunt us well before it expires in 2034. As an agreement it doesn’t look any better, and it certainly won’t be fairer. It will lock Australia into a schooling framework which is worsening with each passing year - and long ago stopped being fair.

June 23, 2024

Unrepentant, independent stirrers in election year

Imminent elections in France, the United States, and the United Kingdom are affected by two long-running concerns: Palestine and the decline of the West. Responses to them will also affect the 2025 elections in Australia.

May 24, 2024

Tracking toward a greenhouse atmosphere and acid oceans

_Where “Two plus two equals five if the party says so” ( George Orwell) and when drilling methane wells reduces global warming.

July 5, 2023

Indonesia could help bring China and US back from the brink

Widodo visit: Indonesia’s approach to regional security needs to be more than than fence-sitting.

Pearls and Irritations

John Menadue's Public Policy Journal