November 9, 2016

CAVAN HOGUE. US election.

It looks like a Trump victory with a Republican Congress, albeit one which contains Republicans who don’t like Trump. But it is far too early to speculate sensibly on what President Trump will actually do. There are more questions than answers.

The problem is that we really don’t know what Trump will do and that will remain the case for some time. What lies below the hot air? Will he listen to wiser counsels? Julie Bishop has made a somewhat over-optimistic comment about how the basics of the alliance will not be affected - but that we will work with whoever is US President. However, we don’t know what he will demand of us. Certainly we may need to rethink some things and he may force a greater degree of independence on us but who knows? We are a very dependent people. Will we be forced to ask exactly how the US has assured stability in our region - if it ever has, andwhat will be its future role? Will Australian troops continue to be integrated into American units and will he ask us to pay for American troops in Darwin? We don’t know. Never forget that we do not loom as large in the US as they do here.

June 27, 2019

RICHARD BUTLER Australia can expect to be asked to take part in an attack on Iran: unless Putin saves us.

US hostility towards Iran has reached a threatening level. Disarray in policy making, lies and, the absence of any clear strategy is involved. War is now at hand and may even seem easier for the US. Australia must think through its interests and principles on this and, ask the US substantive questions. Our participation in an attack on Iran is not simply a matter of Alliance duty. None of the main leaders who will meet Trump at Osaka, other than Putin can help. He could hose it all down. But, will he choose to?

September 29, 2019

DUNCAN GRAHAM Bali alert! Busybodies at large

It was excruciatingly embarrassing.

The hotel receptionist was adamant: We either proved our marriage or we left.Voices were raised which drew more staff and onlookers to the foyer. Security guards appeared.

September 3, 2018

MUNGO MacCALLUM. A ministry top-heavy with lightweights.

So this is what Scott Morrison calls his new generation of leadership.

It consists mainly of retreads from the previous ministry, with the absence of one of the very few the voters actually liked Julie Bishop and the resurrection of some we had thought we were well rid of.

August 13, 2018

WAYNE McMILLAN. Are Millennials Thinking Seriously about Socialism?

A recent report from the Australian conservative, right wing think tankThe Centre for Independent Studies, 1. reckons that Australian millennials are lurching towards Socialism. In this report millennials dont mention what they think about Socialism, or what shape or form it should take and how it could be implemented. I guess they are feeling that any alternative to Capitalism that promises a glimmer of social, economic and ecological hope is worth a go.

June 28, 2017

RANALD MACDONALD. Defending the ABC

The ABC is not perfect but this country desperately needs an ABC able financially and committed to fulfilling its Charter requirements for all Australians. And for it to be free of political interference.

October 20, 2015

Luke Fraser. Rail and roads: a reform blueprint to match Turnbulls boldness and innovation

Australias new Prime Minister demands boldness and innovative action. Amen. To date road and rail reform has proven too dry and monolithic for most Prime Ministers. But failure to act is now accruing several billion dollars in road debt annually. Transport consumes over $30 billion of taxpayer treasure annually. Boldness and innovation here can bankroll many other solutions across Australias economy.

Recently I juxtaposed the continued failure of Australian rail with the US experience, where Jimmy Carters bold market reforms have seen $AUD 800 billion of market money invested in rail since 1980. But what are the solutions for Australia?

June 6, 2018

MARTIN WOLF. Why the Swiss should vote for Vollgeld.

A radical rethink of the financial system was essential after a devastating crisis

There are many other ideas in this broad area that seem worth pursuing. One would be to allow every citizen to hold an account directly at the central bank. The technological reasons for branch banking are, after all, perishing quickly. Nicholas Gruen, an Australian economist, has argued that no private institution should have better access to the publics central bank than the public itself does. Furthermore, he adds, the central bank could operate monetary policy by lending freely against safe mortgages. The central bank would not need to lend to banks per se at all. It would focus on assets.

August 31, 2017

PETER DAY. When Church leaders forget to tell the story that liberates.

Human sexuality is a complex and fragile thing; far greyer than black or white. It is best tended to by gentle, wise, and humble hands religious leaders might like to consider dropping their megaphone diplomacy, then?

September 22, 2019

Nuclear arms treaty and umbrella states (Japan Times 12 Sep)

In 1984, U.S. President Ronald Reagan noted the nuclear emperor had no clothes: The only value in our two nations [United States and Soviet Union] possessing nuclear weapons is to make sure they will never be used. But then would it not be better to do away with them entirely? Indeed it would. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons tries to do so through a new normative settling point on the ethics, legality and legitimacy of the bomb.

March 13, 2014

Azita Bokan. The tragedy on Manus - an eye-witness account.

Azita Bokan was on Manus Island as an official Iranian interpreter during the recent violent clashes. What follows is an edited version of her interview by Richard Glover on ABC Radio Sydney on 21 February 2014.

I came to Australia some 27 years ago and am a proud Australian. My father was a writer and had a newspaper of his own. He was imprisoned in Iran as a political prisoner for his anti-government views. I escaped Iran and was forced to wait three and a half years in Turkey for my turn to migrate to Australia. At the time Turkey was unsafe and dangerous, rife with smugglers, drug dealers and organised prostitution but I had to wait there alone as a little child without a family. I was very grateful to Australia for rescuing me as a refugee which was why I recently enlisted to assist the Department of Immigration in its efforts to protect Australias borders.

January 3, 2021

It is foolhardy, indeed downright irresponsible, to have spectators at cricket and tennis matches this summer

The basic imperative for controllingan epidemic wherein the inhalation of aerosolised viral particles can cause much illness and death, is to__stay away from each other.

August 23, 2017

HENRY REYNOLDS. That day again

Controversy about Australia Day intensifies. The ABCs Triple J is consulting its listeners about moving the popular Hottest 100 Countdown from January 26th. Debate is taking place in council chambers across the country. Melbournes Yarra Council was savaged by Prime Minister Turnbull in parliament last week because the councillors had decided to cancel official ceremonies on January 26. But this week neighbouring Darebin Council voted 6 to 2 to follow suit to be similarly chastised by the federal government.

September 8, 2024

A minority Labor Government is likely after the next election

Public polls and what I have heard of private polls suggest we may be facing a very new political ball game after the next federal election.

August 19, 2018

JOHN MENADUE. Refugees and asylum seekers. The only unforgivable sin is despair'

We can be proud of what we have done for refugees in the past but like many others I am ashamed that we have now had a succession of leaders who have appealed to our most selfish instincts.

When I feel discouraged about our national failure, I am reminded of Graham Greenes challenge that the only unforgivable sin is despair.

August 24, 2018

GOOD READING AND LISTENING FOR THE WEEKEND

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

August 17, 2018

GOOD READING AND LISTENING FOR THE WEEKEND

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

February 23, 2014

John Menadue. Patriots and scoundrels.

Samuel Johnson in 1775 said that patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel. That brings to mind the patriotic politics that both PM Abbott and the PM of Japan, Shinzo Abe, are playing. In this Tony Abbott will find more confirmation that Japan is Australias best friend in Asia, a term that irritates the Chinese.

I am sure that Samuel Johnson was referring to false patriotism, but that is just what Tony Abbott and Shinzo Abe are appealing to in trying to reshape education and public broadcasting in both countries.

October 5, 2015

John Menadue. Nauru and the Philippines!

The Nauru government has announced that the remaining 600 asylum seekers in the islands immigration detention centre will be processed over the next week. This comes after a delay of two years and remarkably slow processing. Why this welcome change? What is afoot?

We know that the Australian government is engaged in bilateral negotiations with several regional countries in trying to relocate asylum seekers. In this context I have seen an unconfirmed report that the Australian government is in discussions with the Philippines government to take asylum seekers from Nauru. If this speculation is confirmed, much will depend on what is negotiated. But an improved outcome could be in prospect.

September 10, 2017

MICHAEL LAMBERT. Australia's electricity markets policy: The shambles continues.

Over the last week we have been treated to the depressing spectacle of the Prime Minister and his government reacting in a knee jerk, wrong-headed manner to two sensible and useful reports that have been released by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). This highlights the folly of not having a national plan for transitioning the National Electricity Market towards an increasingly renewable energy system.

August 29, 2017

GERMAN LOPEZ. Imagine if the media covered alcohol like other drugs

What if the media covered alcohol like it does other drugs? This was a question that came up in my coverage of flake hka, a synthetic drug that made headlines after law enforcement blamed it for people running in the streets naked in delusional paranoia. What follows is a satirical attempt at capturing that same type of alarmist reporting, but for a substance that really causes widespread and severe problems.

November 14, 2018

ANDREW FARRAN. Brexit: When is a horse not a horse? When it is a camel.

This note was prepared following a five hour emergency Cabinet meeting last night accepting the deal with the EU and a brief statement without details by the British PM, Theresa May, declaring that the draft Agreement was the best deal possible, was in the best interests of the British people, and better than no deal. Such detail as we have at this stage is based on well informed leaks to the British media.

September 21, 2017

WE ARE ALSO READING ...

Pearls and Irritations provides the following links for weekend reading:

Murdoch wins again and populist Xenophon goes again with the big end of town - the NewDaily (Bruce Guthrie)

Dance of the elephants - Inside Story (Matthew Ricketson). When governments and Big Media dance together, it is not a pretty picture.

US Senate Democrats show off anti-religious bigotry - Washington Post (Michael Gerson)

Pope Francis Calls Out Trump, Accuses Him of Pro-Life Hypocrisy - Vanity Fair (Tina Nguyen)

March 4, 2018

MUNGO MacCALLUM. Federal Hotels win in Tasmania

_So Tasmania has a new government._Yes, I know the Libs are still in office at 1 Salamanca Place and Will Hodgman is still premier. But the real government, the one run by the pokie industry under the Federal Group and the Farrell family has now been confirmed as the successor of the dynasty of rent seekers who actually manage the Apple Isle.

September 17, 2017

PETER JOHNSTONE Catholics,can definitely vote 'Yes'

Two Catholic bishops have written pastoral letters to their dioceses in which they make it clear that Catholics should not discriminate against same-sex couples and should listen to their consciences in considering how to vote in the ABS survey, now landing in letterboxes throughout the country. Bishop Vincent Long of Parramatta and Bishop Bill Wright of Maitland-Newcastle have effectively removed any Catholic arguments against supporting marriage equality and stress the responsibility of Catholics to discern carefully in determining their vote.

May 24, 2018

LEO PATTERSON ROSS. Renters still face unacceptably poor conditions.

Governments at both federal and state levels continue to rely on the supply of bricks and mortar to solve Australias housing issues. We should be focusing not only on how many buildings are supplied, but what those buildings contain - people, trying to make a home.

March 24, 2015

Alex Wodak. Why is illicit drug use considered evil?

It seems self-evident to many that the use of illicit drugs is evil. But why? When pressed, the most common response to this question is that illicit drug use is evil because it is against the law. So the next question is why is the use of certain drugs illegal? State parliaments in Australia started banning the use of certain drugs even before Federation. In the last half century, Australia signed and ratified three international drug treaties (1961, 1971, 1988) which required domestic parliaments to pass laws imposing criminal sanctions on people who use or traffic drugs.

October 2, 2018

ANDREW FARRAN. Fearing a Cold War with China!

There are fears that the Trump Administration may, with the urging of Americas military/business and security complex and support from middle America, extend its trade war with China into a new Cold War. This would be unlikely to gain substantive international backing though were it to happen it would pose an uncomfortable dilemma for Australia as to how to respond a long awaited test of national maturity.

July 29, 2018

HENRY REYNOLDS. A HUNDRED YEARS OF MATESHIP.

The poster was launched by the Australian Embassy in Washington on July 4th, Independence Day. It attracted no attention at all locally which may have been a blessing. I only heard about it when reading the Australian edition of the Guardian online. It featured the faces of 15 men. It was a strange collection of both Australians and Americans. There were all white and there were no women at all. This was the main theme of the Guardians criticism and Ambassador Hockey felt it necessary to issue an apology for the partial selection of the people who were called patrons. But the choice of participants was only one of the problems with the hapless poster.

July 27, 2018

GOOD READING AND LISTENING FOR THE WEEKEND

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

September 12, 2017

FRANK BRENNAN. Developing an inclusive and sustainable economy (Speech launching the 2017 Social Justice Statement, 7 September 2017)

We’re here to launch Everyone’s Business: Developing an Inclusive and Sustainable Economy. 25 years ago, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference published Common Wealth for the Common Good: A Statement on the Distribution of Wealth in Australia. Michael Costigan and Sandie Cornish who are with us this morning laboured long and hard over four years to produce that document 25 years ago.

October 1, 2019

Monthly digest on housing affordability and homelessness Aug/Sept 2019

This is a monthly digest of interesting articles, research reports, policy announcements and other material relevant to housing stress/affordability and homelessness with hypertext links to the relevant source.

October 1, 2019

GEOFF RABY. An Economic Giant With More Brittle Politics Than Ever. AFR 1 October 2019

Chinas 70th Anniversary will be a razzle-dazzle extravaganza celebrating the achievements of the Communist Party of China since the founding of the Peoples Republic in 1949. The party-states propaganda machinery has already been in over-drive extolling the Partys achievements over the past 70years. On Tuesday, it will reach its peak with a massive military parade which will out do all others.

December 30, 2016

WAYNE SWAN. The blindness of affluence and the need for a more inclusive form of prosperity.

This is a repost from 15 November 2016.

Just over two years ago I was in New York working with Larry Summers and Ed Balls to prepare a report for the Center for American Progress on inclusive prosperity. One morning I had the opportunity to walk the High Line and on the side of an old brick building was a large advertisement which read the French aristocracy never saw it coming either."

It was yet another reminder of the ground swell of support sweeping around the world for a more inclusive form of prosperity and its been an image seared in my mind ever since.

In early 2015 the Inclusive Prosperity Commission Report was published. Its first paragraph concluded that growing inequality is a threat to the political system and for the idea of democracy itself.

September 24, 2017

OISN SWEENEY: Will the Coalition degazette the Murray Valley National Park and cement its anti- environment reputation?

Up to now, Australian Governments of both sides have largely honoured national park declarations made by each other. However, its now official National Party policy to degazette the Murray Valley National Park which would be a low point in Australian conservation history. Given the success of The Nationals in dictating NSW environment policy in the last few years, and the degree to which the Coalition has regressed on environment protection, this is something we need to be worried about.

May 22, 2019

TRACEY WEST. 3 lessons from behavioural economics Bill Shortens Labor Party forgot about (The Conversation)

The Australian Labor Partys 2019 election campaign showed a depth and breadth of economic policies rare for an opposition party to present. Its policy agenda was boldly extensive. But in developing these policies over the past five years, it seems Labors economic minds overlooked some fundamental principles of behavioural economics.

September 29, 2019

MUNGO MACCALLUM. Tribalism runs riot

In the age of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, it is tempting to assume that partisan tribalism has taken over that a new wave of irrational loyalty to the leader, right or wrong, is the only proper way to go.

March 30, 2015

Rodney Tiffin. The university rankings no government wants to talk about.

At a conference of university leaders in early 2013, Tony Abbottpromised relative policy stability in higher education if he became prime minister. A year later, Universities Australia began its first Abbott-erabudget submission by welcoming the undertaking of the government to preserve funding arrangements for higher education, including the commitment not to make further cuts to the sector.

When it came, though, the Coalitions first budget proposed cutting university funding by a breathtaking 20 per cent and removing the ceiling on university fees. Since then, the only stability in tertiary education policy has been education minister Christopher Pynes repeated attempts to have the Senate pass those measures. With the threat of financial catastrophe hanging over the sector, Universities Australia has supported the governments proposals for deregulation, arguing rather coyly that the funding system is broken, but not indicating who broke it.

March 20, 2024

Assange in plea deal talks

The report in The Wall Street Journal makes public what Consortium News had learned off the record, namely that the U.S. is engaging Julian Assanges lawyers about a deal that could set the imprisoned publisher free.

November 27, 2016

ALISON BROINOWSKI. Trump - Seize the moment. Quo vadis series.

Quo vadis - Australian foreign policy and ANZUS.

**Summary.**We have a unique moment to do something Australia has never done - make a rational distinction between our national interests and our enduring regard for the US.

July 15, 2019

LAURIE PATTON. Barbarians at the gate dont let them destroy Murray Valley national park

The New South Wales deputy premier wants to allow logging in a national park in the statesRiverina.John Barilarosays he intends removing statutory protection of the 42,000 hectareMurray Valley National Park either by de-gazetting the entire area or reducing its size.

September 11, 2017

JOHN TULLOH. The female revolution at ABC News.

But the women (foreign correspondents) were (likelier than men) to be more thoughtful in looking at the wider context or human side of stories. In short, they were inclined to be nosier and would go the extra mile to pin down or dig deeper into an aspect of a story.

April 2, 2019

MICHAEL PASCOE. Frydenberg makes emergency direct deposits. (New Daily 3.4.2019)

The headlines might look pretty, but there’s little substance behind the government’s core budget spends.

March 26, 2017

ANDREW FARRAN. Stirring a Witchs Brew - Selling military equipment to Saudi Arabia.

Australia is busily involved in selling military equipment to Saudi Arabia which is engaged in the civil war in the Yemen whose features exceed in brutality and crimes against humanity those in Syria. Has the government clearly thought through where this might lead, and does the risk of adverse consequences outweigh a few commercial contracts regardless of where Australia might end up in relation to the wider conflict now well underway in the Middle East?

February 25, 2014

Paul Barratt. Goodwill between countries matters.

In his Australia Day post Abbotts relations with China Australias first Ambassador to the Peoples Republic, Stephen Fitzgerald, begins

‘Can you believe the Abbott government has any idea where its headed on relations with China? Whatever you think of Chinas politics, you cant just take sides against China or meddle in the tense and volatile issue of China-Japan relations without there being some consequence for our bilateral relations. But the government doesnt seem to care. From what you can divine from the little it says publicly, it thinks the Chinese will back down under Australias glare, and get over it. Like the Indonesians will get over it. But the Indonesians, whose thinking we know more clearly, arent going to get over it. Abbott and Morrison are so untutored in foreign relations and diplomacy, or so deaf or both, that they dont understand something has snapped in Jakarta. Its not about our policies its about the language the Abbott government uses and the lecturing, patronising and racist attitudes they convey. A strong, independent, democratic and regionally influential Indonesia is not going to put up with that any longer and relations are never going back to the way they were before.’

February 26, 2018

MATTHEW RICKETSON & RODNEY TIFFEN. The chronicler we deserve?

Michael Wolffs book owes a large debt to the ethically grounded work of the journalists he professes to disdain.

June 28, 2020

Stuck in the craw of the Coalition

What is it about the ABC that gets stuck in the craw of the Coalition?

October 1, 2019

Self-Censoring Journalists: the BDS Movement and Julian Assange

In June at the National Press Club, the bosses of News Corp, Channel Nine and the ABC spoke about press freedom. David Anderson, Managing Director of the ABC said, Press freedom is proxy for public freedom.

May 23, 2018

NED CUTCHER. House prices off the boil in some cities, but its still grim for renters.

2017 was hoped to have been the year of the renter. As Federal Budget 2018 ticks by, the picture remains grim for low-income renters, despite property prices having come off the boil (for now) in some capital cities.

Pearls and Irritations

John Menadue's Public Policy Journal