August 10, 2024

Escalation of national terrorism threat level misleads Australians

The announcement by ASIO Boss Mike Burgess that the National Terrorism Threat Level would be raised from ‘possible to probable’ has received massive mainstream publicity, a spike in talkback radio angst and widespread freelance interpretation about who presents the incipient threat.

April 10, 2024

ACT law reform to be still-born?

ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury might get the feeling that the new Law Reform and Sentencing Advisory Council he established in November last year is channeling Freddie Mercury: they want it all, and they want it now.

September 4, 2023

Going dark on information: The Albanese governments transparency problem

When governments first assume the reins of power, an air of optimism accompanies them. They will be different from their erring predecessors, adopt a more conciliatory approach to opponents, listen to various positions and develop policy with mild sagacity. Within a few months, the air palls. Old practices reaffirm themselves.

August 12, 2023

Fred Smith: The Sparrows of Kabul

During the crush at the evacuation of Kabul airport in 2021, a little girl became separated from her mother and was inconsolable and could not be moved. Fred left her for a moment, during which CS gas caused a stampede of marines. When he looked for the girl, she had disappeared.

July 3, 2024

New rights for union delegates with surprising origins and effects

On 1 July, an important change in the industrial relations landscape came into force. Industrial awards (‘modern awards’, as they’re now called), that set minimum standards in workplaces, will include guarantees of rights for workplace union delegates. All new enterprise agreements must also include such provisions.

July 2, 2024

Beware: corrupt conduct is not always criminal

Last week, Anthony Albanese was reckoned by some to have caused a political coup by luring a former NSW Liberal Treasurer, Matt Kean out of NSW politics and into a Commonwealth position as chair of the climate change authority. Strictly, this might rate as a patronage job, rather than one controlled by public service Act processes. Kean has environmental credentials, but his appointment was neither at arm’s length, nor, in the ordinary sense on merit.

September 11, 2022

Chinese Australians still have hopes for the Federal Labor Albanese Government

The Government needs to keep in mind that Labor won office significantly due to the ‘Chinese Australian’ vote in 5 to 6 key electorates. The governments inaction on China could see those ALP votes disappear.

April 12, 2021

Asylum policy in UK and Australia a tale of two nations

In these two nations, the backlog of asylum applications and that of refused asylum seekers who have not departed is remarkably similar (see Table 1). But debate on the matter in the two countries is very different.

October 18, 2020

The Victorian lockdown is not just about health and lives!

Recently we have had Peter Singer, WHO envoys and Chris Uhlmann seemingly critical of the Covid-19 lockdown in Victoria. However, have they failed to recognise the significance of Victoria not being a country but one of eight states and territories?

June 21, 2024

Cartoon Commentary

April 18, 2024

Independents targeting Labor voters

The Teals have targeted Liberal voters in wealthy electorates, so their focus has been on transparency, women’s rights and the environment. These are issues of concern to the Liberal-leaning who are unhappy with many coalition policies. I expect this to continue in the next election. However, we need to focus on the strategy to adopt in Labor-leaning electorates for people who are unhappy with Labor policies.

August 26, 2023

National Cabinets new housing plan could fix our rental crisis and save renters billions

Wednesdays National Cabinet meeting set itself a huge task: to fix Australias rental crisis. Thankfully, given rents are rising at their fastest rate in decades, the plan it produced just might do the trick.

July 15, 2023

With appointment of RBA Governor, Dutton should retract slandering

Some might argue the appointment of Michele Bullock as RBA Governor renders irrelevant the slandering of two of our most senior public servants as tainted. Peter Dutton should not be let off the hook so lightly.

July 9, 2023

Police shouldnt be able to investigate themselves. Victoria needs an independent police accountability body

This week, a new report revealed First Nations people, as well as people of African or Middle Eastern appearance, were disproportionately targeted by police in issuing COVID-19 fines.

May 25, 2023

Migration policy and modern slavery: no sex worker left behind?

While minds turn to an overhaul of Australias migration policies, anti-sex work sentiment may have created a parallel policy reality for some.

May 11, 2023

Scott Morrison and Australias Lobby Complex

The former Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has been somewhat of an absentee in the Federal seat of Cook. Since losing the May 2022 election, he has been aggressively chasing up contacts and deals on the consultancy circuit, bellyaching about the usual talking points: the gruesome China menace; defence matters; and, just to round it off for good measure, additional iterations of the China menace.

July 14, 2021

Rule of law in Hong Kong: Judicial safety and foreign hypocrites

In the Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the Rule of Law at the National and International Levels, adopted in 2012, it is stated that the advancement of the rule of law is essential for sustained and inclusive economic growth, sustainable development, the eradication of poverty and hunger and the full realization of all human rights and freedoms.

September 14, 2024

In a wheel chair to the peripheries

Eighty-seven-year-old Pope Francis’ trip to Indonesia, Papua-New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore shows he’s not slowing up.

August 7, 2024

Do 84 percent of overseas students go home?

Much has been made by the International Education Industry of a 2013-14 Treasury estimate that 84 percent of overseas students go home. Apart from the accuracy of this estimate over ten years after the Knight Review recommendations were implemented, the Industry argues that because a large percentage of students go home, there is no need for the Government to manage student numbers or student policy. This reflects a misunderstanding of the policy problems the Government is trying to address.

August 4, 2024

Looking to the future

Pearls and Irritations has long been Australia’s best public policy site and it is now even more important.

May 5, 2024

I love paying tax

This was not always my view. Like most people I examined where I could minimize my tax – where there were offsets to be gained through education, membership of professional bodies, charity donations, equipment, including computer hardwater/software/paper etc. I also had shares and a rental property so used negative gearing and imputation credits. It all seemed to be what was expected.

May 4, 2024

Australia adapts to a worldwide collapse of neoliberalism - Weekly Roundup

Sorry, economists, people like A Future Made in Australia_, the long-term story of violence against women, the case for liberal education, why Jack Welch would have been the ideal RBA governor. Read on for the weekly roundup of links to articles, podcasts, reports and other media on current economic and political issues._

August 22, 2023

Campbells AUKUS appointment did not meet standards of public service

There are solid grounds for suspecting that the appointment of Ms Kathryn Campbell, of Robodebt notoriety, to the Department of Defences AUKUS division did not meet the normal standards required for other appointments in the public service. Those responsible for the appointment of Ms Campbell and the suspension of her salary have got little to write home about.

June 9, 2023

The Reserve Bank still hasnt damaged the economy enough: Weekly Roundup

The Reserve Bank still hasnt damaged the economy enough; The Ben Roberts-Smith case is about more than one persons behaviour; and how South Australia has borrowed Putins laws on political protests. Read on for the Weekly Roundup of links to articles, reports, podcasts and other media on current political and economic issues in public policy.

April 15, 2023

Australian Frontier Wars: credibility gap at the War Memorial

There is a gap between Kim Beazleys assurances about how the Australian War Memorial will properly recognise and commemorate the Australian Frontier Wars and what is actually being planned at the Memorial as it continues its $548m redevelopment. Action is needed now to get the Memorial on track.

December 23, 2020

What the hell kind of Christmas is this?

We are forced to face this Christmas with everything stripped away except the simple fact that Christ is with us.

September 27, 2024

How threatening is AI? Opinions differ in the United States and China

Three years ago, in 2021, Henry Kissinger and two other noted gurus, Eric Schmidt, owning a technical background and who later became CEO of Google, and Daniel Huttenlocher, who founded Cornell Tech and was dean of MIT Schwarzman College of Computing, penned the book The Age of AI and Our Human Future. The book was published by Little Brown in New York.

September 22, 2024

What our donors have told us

I have such admiration for Pearls and Irritations. Thanks so much. Unfortunately my donation can’t match my admiration. Anonymous

August 13, 2024

If fonix doesn’t spell phonics, what does it spell?

As a beginning teacher in the year 2000, and the father of a young child, the question, ‘Do I use whole language or phonics?’ did not occur to me. Instinctively, it made sense that when attempting to pronounce a new word one had to know something of the connection to the sounds we make and the letter symbols we see. I was unaware then of the reading wars but I was aware that some educational psychologists were advocating that phonics and explicit teaching of the alphabet code inform early reading instruction.

August 5, 2024

Steady as she goes

China’s Third Plenum consolidated the significant changes in policy direction foreshadowed in previous quietly implemented policy designed to progress towards the goal of common prosperity.

August 1, 2024

An emerging new world order

Who will speak on behalf of peace?

July 30, 2024

A to do list for the incoming immigration minister

Cabinet reshuffle - policy and outcomes matter, not who is in charge, say refugees. Here is the pressing to do list for the incoming immigration minister:

July 17, 2024

A road to nowhere: faith-based political parties

In recent weeks there has been talk of the prospect of a Muslim party being formed to contest the next federal election. The prime minister has responded by saying he did not want Australia to go down the road of faith-based political parties.

July 23, 2023

Kindergarten mentality: a higher standard required from those who govern us

Some politicians have decided to do what is better for them and their re-election and position rather than whats good for Australia. They think the smart thing to do is trash the whole idea of the Voice. Ego, power, position and privilege have nothing to do with the Voice. It has to do with Australian citizens and how best we can be inclusive and move forward.

July 1, 2023

An update on Sydney Trains' little review

The little review of Sydney Trains has revealed more than some, including the Minister, might like. This is the first of two posts on the subject.

May 6, 2023

Vale Allan Gyngell

Perhaps now - more than ever - is the time when Australia needs outstanding foreign policy thinkers. It has lost one of its best with the death of Allan Gyngell after a short illness.

April 24, 2022

A strange Anzac day

Its what Australian military historians tend to call Anzac season the weeks preceding the one day of the year when they get asked to speak on talk-back radio about current anniversaries (there are always a couple), or to discuss how Anzac seems to be both changing and un-changing. But this year, Anzac season seems somehow different.

January 18, 2021

Australia's 'rule of law' system leaves millions unprotected: Part 2

Part 1 discussed the role of law-makers (parliamentarians) and law-implementers (public servants). Part 2 discusses the role of law-interpreters (judges) and law-enforcers, including a non-regulating regulator, Comcare.

July 20, 2024

US-India rift over close Russia ties – Asian Media Report

In Asian media this week: India’s message of foreign policy independence. Plus Green-tech overcapacity claims ‘absurd’; How West could help the Rest fight climate change; Asia-Pacific NATO would add to flash points; Party dismisses disgraced leaders; Newspaper scores press freedom own goal.

May 30, 2024

Death machine: striking at the heart of the planetary problem

What is it going to take, asks climate activist Violet Coco, to stop the death machine, to save humanity and the living world? We first need to find the engine, the beating heart of this global materialist-consumerist-industrial civilisation.

May 10, 2024

No, Minister. It’s you who should be in court

Even good minds can get criminal justice wrong, but usually for only so long.

May 31, 2023

Aboriginal housing: Australias biggest policy failure?

The inadequate if not negligent response of governments around Australia to the critical issue of Aboriginal housingperhaps the countrys biggest policy failureputs into sharp focus why a Voice to Parliament may help elevate the case for urgent action.

August 11, 2021

Newcastle Port decision: overreach, misunderstanding or both?

The Federal Courts rejection of the ACCCs case against Government-imposed penalties facing Newcastle Port seemed to misunderstand transport policy matters and give more weight to the Governments latest excuses than to logic and observed actions.

February 2, 2021

Campaign autopsy by Trump pollster paints damning picture

The 27-page report pins Trump’s loss on voter perception that he was untrustworthy and disapproval of his pandemic performance.

December 17, 2020

The Sunday Obligation resumes for fewer Catholics

During the pandemic, Catholic Church authorities were forced to endorse the state’s ban on Mass attendance. Some hoped this would be the end of the Sunday Obligation, but Sydneys Archbishop Anthony Fisher reimposed it last week.

June 8, 2023

Ugly situation in Kosovo has parallels with Ukraine

The ugly situation developing in Kosovo, formerly a province of Serbia, has parallels with Ukraine. The result could be just as bloody. But is anyone listening?

May 14, 2023

Terror Nullius: the tale of Tasmania

England invaded Australia in 1788, releasing a terror of death and dispossession on first nations peoples, particularly in Tasmania. Now 235 years later, Aboriginals, through the Statement from the Heart and the Constitutional Voice, say that it is time that this terror ceased.

July 9, 2022

Ted Trainer: Ross Gittins thinks capitalism can save us. Heres why it cant

We are racing towards the catastrophic collapse of our bio-physical and social systems, driven by the capitalist economy. Gittins illustrates the trained incapacity of the conventional economic mind to get it.

December 9, 2020

Saudi Prince Blasts Israel at Bahrain Summit, Says Normalization Must Help Palestinians (HAARETZ Dec 8, 2020)

Prince Turki al-Faisal, who served as Saudi ambassador to the U.S. and U.K., says Israel is a ‘Western colonizing power’ incarcerating Palestinians in ‘concentration camps’.

Pearls and Irritations

John Menadue's Public Policy Journal