June 8, 2021

The ABC does not have an "editor-in-chief"

Reporters continue to refer to the managing director of the ABC, David Anderson, as the editor-in-chief. There is no such office in the ABC.

February 10, 2020

The Nats and Barnaby

Barnaby Joyce is focused and determined to the point of egomania, and utterly ruthless in the process. That is what makes him dangerous.

March 24, 2020

ABUL RIZVI: The Ruby Princess how could this have happened?

The Ruby Princess, along with a number of other cruise ships that arrived in Australia around the same time, will go down in Australian history as a super spreader of disease and death.

December 5, 2017

JOHN TULLOH. The potholed U.S. road to Jerusalem

It was a bizarre move earlier this year when a New York real estate investor, with no experience in politics, diplomacy or foreign affairs, was appointed to broker an Israeli/Palestinian settlement. He would follow in the footsteps of a succession of seasoned diplomatic hagglers who all departed empty handed_. Now his task is likely to be_ more impossible than ever thanks to his father-in-law.

April 28, 2024

Australia's new defence strategy fights last war

The Ukrainians changed the face of modern warfare with inexpensive Chinese-made drones equipped with cheap Chinese-made cameras. These provide both battlefield intelligence and a platform for delivering destructive weapons.

July 10, 2021

Sunday environmental round up.

Greta Thunberg accuses world leaders of pretending to tackle climate change. Ecocide gets a legal definition President Bolsonaro beware! Economic viability of gas power plants justified on false assumptions and lots of reasons why nuclear isnt the answer either. Australias emissions per person not as praiseworthy as the government would have us believe.

April 17, 2021

Hong Kong's housing crisis- an underlying factor in the 2019 riots.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) has a serious housing problem.There has been much discussion over the last several years about how this has amplified social discontent.This conversation intensified during the major 2019 protests that became a lengthy anti-government and anti-Beijing rebellion.

May 30, 2021

Australian Catholic media censorship, Pravda style.

Theres a Plenary Council coming up in October 2021 and it is slated to be an opportunity for renewal for the Catholic Church in this country.But is there room for dialogue when evan an Archbishop is gagged?

October 6, 2020

Chinas wicked competitive advantage. A house is for living, not for speculation.

Cheap labour is frequently given as the basic factor underpinning the low cost to us of ‘made in China’ goods but is there another, more fundamental factor.

June 3, 2021

Three things I learned as a white Australian academic in China

The term ’nuance’ is often used to capture the multiple grey areas in our quest to understand China. The experience of teaching in a Chinese university led me to find a way to pinpoint and locate some of these nuanced spaces through an honest recognition of my own cultural and historical baggage.

May 23, 2021

Ageism in the time of Covid

The coronavirus pandemic must cause us to re-appraise the value we attach to the lives of others, especially vulnerable people and those who are old.

May 22, 2021

From multicultural Australia to cosmopolitan Australia?

One of John Howards more petty acts was to belime the idea of multiculturalism. Subsequent political leaders have been less cynical about the term. Malcolm Turnbull even boasted that Australia is the most successful multicultural society in the world. However, Howard did succeed in relegating multiculturalism to being a lower order issue on the countrys public policy agenda.

June 26, 2023

Australia keeps escalating its censorship and propaganda campaign

Theres a frenzied rush by the Australian political/media class to both propagandise Australians as quickly as possible into supporting preparations for war with China, and to ram through legislation that facilitates the censorship of online speech.

July 13, 2021

What did we do to China?

_Half of us reckon China is responsible for improving the relationship between our countries, forty per cent expect China to attack us, and two-thirds say its interference in our affairs is a major problem. The Lowy Institutes Natasha Kassam says, No other country in the world not Taiwan, Japan or South Korea is talking about the likelihood of war on a day-to-day basis.

May 19, 2021

ASPI: The Tabloid Think Tank

_Is it true? Or did you hear it from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute?

May 16, 2021

Coral Reef Forecast: grim but hope and action will ensure survival

Australia’s mish mash of climate policies are consistent with a 2.5 - 3.0C rise in global average temperature compared to pre-industrial levels. That would wipe out all the world’s coral reefs, force half a billion people into food insecurity and destroy one of the seven natural wonders of the world._

April 7, 2021

Is Australias retirement income system delivering on its potential?

The Australian retirement income system is effective, sound and its costs are broadly sustainable according to the Retirement Income Review chaired by Mike Callaghan.

February 16, 2020

MUNGO MACCALLUM. The Gap report.Hopes dashed within minutes.

We know Scott Morrison seldom takes much notice of those who disagree with him.

July 20, 2022

Three immigration solutions for worker shortages from Victorian and NSW business lobby

_The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Business NSW have proposed three immigration solutions to address worker shortages.

June 27, 2021

Finding the origins of COVID-19 and preventing future pandemics

An international and independent investigation to examine the alternative hypotheses is urgently needed, and the US and Chinese governments should cooperate fully and transparently with such an inquiry. In the meantime, scientists, politicians, and pundits should acknowledge the uncertainties that currently prevail.

June 15, 2021

Lampooners beware politicians dignity is precious

A cutting cartoon by Cathy Wilcox in The Age this month had a figure looking like Scott Morrison in the first frame saying: And Jenny said to me, you have to think of this as a father first. In the second the PM adds: And I thought: Dont be ridiculous. These girls dont look anything like my daughters.

July 20, 2022

Moon Chung-in: Cynicism rears its head in the war in Ukraine

In the end, all of the players involved will need to return to realism and prioritise a peaceful resolution. History teaches us that wars only truly end through diplomatic compromise.

September 27, 2024

Aged care reforms unfair, unreasonable, unsustainable

Bipartisan agreement between the government and opposition have resulted in compromised, ageist inflected amendments to aged care legislation that do not respond adequately to the damning findings and reasoned recommendations of the royal commission.

May 16, 2022

Christians and the Federal Election

Christianity and Christians cannot be neutral or disconnected from politics. Christianity is an incarnate faith. While it rightly gives central place to personal piety, Christianity is, at its roots, a way of life deeply immersed in the world for its justice, renewal and transformation. It is so because God, who took human likeness in Jesus, is prejudiced toward harmony and justice and therefore is on the side of the poor and needy, the downtrodden and voiceless. The divine agenda is nothing less than the transformation of human society into one where the first will be last and the last will be first. Christians pray: thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.

March 23, 2020

MUNGO MACCALLUM.-The personal and social problems of isolation.

Communities encourage and enhance the general well-being and co-operation needed to keep society going, the idea of a common wealth.

March 5, 2020

ALEX MITCHELL: Move to expel Richo from NSW Labor

Graham Richardson, aka Richo or Cardinal Richlieu, has infuriated his comrades in Sussex Street with anti-Labor broadsides prompting moves to expel him. Is this a good idea?

May 23, 2021

All too convenient to blame the Health bureaucrats

Caroline Edwards, Associate secretary of the Commonwealth Health Department may have seemed churlish in refusing to accept that her departments efforts in organising coronavirus vaccinations, essentially under her control, had been an abject failure.

September 18, 2022

NSW Inquiry into Trade Commissioner appointment has lessons beyond NSW

The former NSW Public Service Commissioner, Graeme Head, provided the Premier with a most carefully considered report on the processes leading to John Barilaros appointment as Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner.

May 6, 2023

Human Rights and ethnic-regional autonomy in China

When the western media and politicians speak of Chinas treatment of minorities it is always taken for granted that such treatment is a violation of the minoritys human rights. I would venture to differ. China has a complex framework of ethnic-regional autonomy enshrined in its constitution that is poorly understood in the West. Having worked extensively in China, I have found that the two aspects that the Government are most concerned about are internal stability and territorial integrity.

February 16, 2020

RICHARD JAVAD HEYDARIAN.Duterte delivers deathblow to US-Philippine ties(Asia Times 12.2.2020)

Filipino leader scraps key bilateral security pact that US leverages to check China in the South China Sea

May 25, 2021

Advice being tailored for political, not medical, need

Scott Morrison has repeatedly reiterated that all decisions in relation to Coronavirus public health measures have been taken in accordance with medical advice. But the advice itself has frequently been considerably less than transparent, even as he has had medical officials standing alongside him, giving every appearance of having crafted his words and drafted his decisions.

February 18, 2020

ANDREW FARRAN. Further unintended consequences for Boris's Brexit.

Coming to terms with the repercussions of Brexit has not been made easier for the UK by Boris Johnsons self-imposed constraint that the business must be settled by 31st December with no extensions.

May 23, 2023

A grim vision of nuclear warfare in Ukraine

In Ukraine, grim visions of a new age of nuclear warfare are the natural counterpart of western hardliners march of folly towards the nuclear brink. Thankfully, there is an alternative, one that has been possible since the very beginning of the conflict and now has growing support among Western publics.

March 16, 2020

ABUL RIZVI. Possible population projections in the forthcoming 2020 Intergenerational Report

Treasurer Frydenberg will shortly publish the 2020 Intergenerational Report (IGR) Australias fifth such document. It’s as close as we get to a long-term plan (usually 40 years) for the Australian population and economy.

April 9, 2022

The Saudi involvement in 9/11

The FBI has quietly revealed further evidence of Saudi government complicity in the September 11 attacks. But the full story is yet to be told.

April 2, 2020

JOCELYN CHEY. People Matter Lets Not Make Exceptions

_The corona virus emergency should bring out the best in people, but in some it is causing vicious blame-sharing. Fingers are being pointed at Chinese Australians and accusations levelled of lack of patriotism and even illegal activities.

June 18, 2023

The mainstream medias unwillingness to challenge U.S. militarisation

The Washington Post finally conceded in an editorial recently that the United States must spend smarter when it comes to defence. Instead of looking for ways to cut defence spending, however, the Post simply wants to spend differently. It favours more spending on conventional and nuclear-armed submarines, despite the huge U.S. advantage in both power projection and lethality in air and naval resources. The Post favours greater investment in cyber defences and secure communications as well as in predictive analytics and artificial intelligence. And, of course, the Post joins the chorus of political and pundit voices warning that China continues to creep toward Taiwan, currently the main driver of militarisation.

June 3, 2018

LUCY BERAUD-SUDREAU. Asia's defence budgets dispel 'arms race' myth.

Asian defence spending has not grown faster than the region’s economies - and the share of defence budgets allocated to procurement and R&D has held steady over time.

March 25, 2020

JEFF BORLAND.-. COVID -19 and the Australian labour market: The immediate impact

COVID-19 will bring decreases in employment and labour supply in Australia at a scale and speed which are unprecedented. This article explains why COVID-19 is having these effects and describes who are the workers being most affected.

January 23, 2021

Vale Andrew Mack

The many Australian friends and colleagues of Professor Andrew Mack will be deeply saddened to learn he passed away in Vancouver on 20 January 2021 after a year of serious illness.

May 10, 2021

On the bandwagon: Australian media helps government peddle disinformation

There has, quite rightly, been criticism in the mainstream media of authoritarian states and their use of disinformation campaigns and cyber attacks. However, the US and its democratic allies decades ago pioneered the use of disinformation in their huge propaganda campaigns. China is just a beginner.

August 11, 2022

Alan Pears: Climate action will drive disruptive change, but we can build on past experience

Election May 2022 a new beginning for climate and energy policy?

July 11, 2020

Afghanistan's Progress Towards Reconciliation: Some Good and Bad News (AIIA 2.7.20)

Months of peace negotiations in Afghanistan bring good and bad news. Despite consolidation of a power sharing agreement between political rivals and the formation of a council for peace, the coronavirus and a contest for Taliban leadership will defer the commencement of peace talks.

January 29, 2020

IAN McAULEY. In defence of Bridget McKenzie

In the court of public opinion Bridget McKenzie has become the scapegoat for systemic poor administration.

June 3, 2021

Was there a Wuhan lab leak? Why an inquiry won't dig out the truth

A year ago, the idea that Covid-19 leaked from a lab in Wuhan a short distance from the wet market that is usually claimed to be the source of the virus was dismissed as a crackpot theory, supported only by Donald Trump, QAnon and hawks on the right looking to escalate tensions dangerously with China…But under Trump, US officials were reportedly funding work at the Wuhan lab through a US-based medical organisation called the EcoHealth Alliance.

March 25, 2020

JOHN MENADUE.- Podcast ABC The Eleventh, February/March 2020

This is an edited transcript of an interview I conducted with the ABC for a podcast series The Eleventh.

August 20, 2022

Caitlin Johnstone: China threatens the US Empire, not the US

So many empire apologist arguments depend on pretending the US empire doesn’t exist; pretending the US is just a normal country sitting there minding its own business.

March 9, 2020

IMOGEN ZETHOVEN. After the bushfires comes the bleaching

After a summer of intense heat, drought, bushfires, hailstones and floods, we now have another climate-change driven disaster emerging.

May 15, 2021

The True Meaning of the Afghan Withdrawal

The many Afghans who believed in Americas democratic promises will join a growing line of abandoned allies, stretching back to the Vietnam era and including, more recently, Kurds, Iraqis, and Somalis, among others. Once the full costs of Washingtons withdrawal from Afghanistan become apparent, the debacle may, not surprisingly, discourage potential future allies from trusting Washingtons word or judgment.

Pearls and Irritations

John Menadue's Public Policy Journal