February 5, 2024

A pro-Israel policy will become electoral poison for Labor

The Labor and Liberal parties blind pro-Israel policy will haunt them in the next federal election.

February 4, 2024

Mid term Aged Care Report card: 5/10 - must try harder

The election of the Albanese Labor government was met with a strong sense of optimism among people who had been lobbying for aged care reform for years. Finally, a government prepared to address the systemic issues that had plagued the sector since the Howard government neo-liberal reforms decades before. Alas, it was not to be.

December 6, 2023

Singing from the Songsheet: Media uncritically parrots ASPI's anti-China propaganda

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) have once again proven they should be re-named the American Strategic Policy Institute. They have produced a new report based on errors, misunderstandings, speculation and offered no proof whatsoever to make China, and people who support China, look bad; all while being funded by the US State Department. At least the report was funded by the US State Department until ASPI decided it wasnt!

December 1, 2023

The future for Palestinians, Israelis, and peace in the Middle East

Following the Hamas attack of October 7 and the subsequent Israeli response, the ground has irrevocably shifted. There can be no going back to the previously prevailing status quo in which the Palestinians of Gaza suffer an endless blockade, the Palestinians of the West Bank face on-going rule through military occupation, and the people of East Jerusalem suffer continuing restriction and loss of identity.

October 17, 2023

A swing from Labour gives New Zealand a new National Party Government

Six years ago New Zealand’s Sixth Labour Government aimed to make New Zealand a better place in which to live. Its first term of three years was almost a dream run. It didn’t last. Disruption by outside influences including the COVID Pandemic and international inflation, and a disciplined election campaign by the political opposition combined to defeat the government.

March 15, 2023

Imperial power: The Iraq war, 20 years on

Iraqs trauma is regarded in some quarters as an ill-gotten remnant of the past: something to be air-brushed from history. But not so for those experiencing the ravages of imperial power. On the 20th anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq - March, 20, 2023 - the people of Iraq await a historical reckoning.

February 23, 2023

Ukraine, the war and a Chinese hope for settlement

The anniversary of the war in Ukraine was accompanied by high level visits to both Moscow and Kviv.

February 4, 2023

Australia: peacemaker or warmonger?

What role is Australia playing in the diplomacy that ultimately will end the Ukraine conflict and prevent war over Taiwan? Even the most hawkish cannot seriously believe such conflicts will end militarily.

December 5, 2022

Facing a global economic slowdown, the Labor government will need a new strategy to rise to the economic challenges ahead

The Albanese Labor Government has had a very good first six months, however the challenges that lie ahead will be much more demanding. The Government needs to articulate its vision of how our social cohesion depends upon creating an Australian society that is caring and with reasonable equality of opportunity as the foundation for why public expenditure and additional tax revenue is necessary.

October 31, 2022

The Storm is Here: can Australia prevent the conspiracy sphere metastasising into fatal disease?

Sometimes it takes a war correspondent to cast light on what is happening at home.

February 21, 2022

Playing the Chinese Card: An Unconscionable and Hazardous Enterprise

For a person who hailed from Malaysia, driven to Australia by the push and pull of racial discriminationand liberal democracy respectively, the recent playing of the Chinese card by both major parties in Australia even before the next election campaigns are in full-throttle engenders a feeling of deja vu.

February 6, 2022

Apartheid state: the judgment of the world is turning against Israel

_Amnesty International has accused Israel of apartheid, and the Jewish state’s actions against the Palestinians are attracting increasing criticism.

January 30, 2022

Bad capitalists: Australia's corporate welfare betrays the system

There are good capitalists out there but those in the Australian government propping up failing industries are not among them. _

January 20, 2022

Sydney Festival boycott justified, despite repetitive protests of Israel lobby

Opposition to such a boycott depends on lies about a movement that rejects racism and violence and is based on principles of international law.

December 1, 2021

A bitter fruit: wage slavery is alive and well in Australian heartland

In a regional city, an army of undocumented workers toil for dishonest labour-hire firms while the government turns a blind eye. Barbara Kelly explains.

November 14, 2021

It's not forensic rocket science: why we need a Criminal Cases Review Commission

An independent review body will buttress the courts, remedying miscarriages of justice by deciphering often complex expert evidence.

November 10, 2021

Scales of justice tarnished when punishment outweighs restoration

Australia has a predilection for jailing vulnerable citizens but tough penalties are not working. The disadvantaged continue to be repressed, coerced and stigmatised.

November 2, 2021

The age-old debate on generational conflict is deeply flawed

Every generation deserves the best chance in life, but achieving this has been undermined by government policy failure and misplaced claims of advantage.

October 12, 2021

Nobel Peace Prize recipients Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov have some lessons for Australia

Australian journalists should try imitating the extreme courage of Nobel Peace Price winners Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov justice needs to be done on many issues.

February 4, 2025

Public letter to my MP about Israel’s actions in Palestine

Dear Julian Leeser MP, I live in your electorate, Berowra. In this letter I respond to your statement in your newsletter: “These differences [between the major political parties] are most notable on Israel and Ukraine where we have failed to stand by our values and stand with our friends as previous governments both Labor and Liberal have done.”

January 11, 2025

Dreyfus' trip of liege homage

Mark Dreyfus, the Australian Attorney-General, is travelling to Israel to pay fealty to an indicted war criminal, Benjamin Netanyahu. Dreyfus, a member of the current Australian Labor government has not criticised the ongoing genocide.

December 19, 2024

Beyond sectarian war: How Syrians are betrayed into an undesirable revolution

“For the master’s tool will never dismantle the master’s house. They may allow us temporarily to beat him at his own game, but they will never enable us to bring about genuine change” Audre Lorde._

January 6, 2024

We had a stable then-a repost

December 18, 2023

COP28 a tragedy for the planet as Stockholm Syndrome took hold

Up to 100,000 people most of whom derive their professional status and income from climate-related politics, advocacy and business flew into Dubai for the COP28 annual global climate policy-making event, the Conference of the Parties under the United Nations climate convention. And the result?

November 22, 2023

The cost-of-living crisis: How should the Government respond?

Living standards have fallen recently. The Albanese Government has responded with targeted assistance, but the policy options to alleviate the damage for working families are limited, especially in the short run. However, one readily available policy option would be to reshape the Stage 3 tax cuts due to take effect next July.

March 19, 2023

Twenty years on, coalition of the willing rebranded

20 years ago, on 20 March 2003, the US, the UK, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq in an illegal act of aggression. As with all wars, we were told this one would be quick. The pretext for the invasion was - despite authoritative doubts raised at the time - claims about the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein having weapons of mass destruction. There were no such weapons in Iraq, although plenty of them in two of the invading nations. After on-again off-again ADF deployments, the last Australian troops finally left the country in June 2020.

December 15, 2022

Bombers revolving doorway

There is a never-ending conga line of politicians, intelligence, military and defence officials quick-stepping through revolving doorways onto the boards of lucrative military weapons companies.

December 12, 2022

The War Memorial plays along with Lockheed Martin

Senator David Shoebridge, a new Green from New South Wales, tabled a document in Senate Estimates on 8 November which showed just how keen the Australian War Memorial has been to oblige its corporate donors.

November 21, 2022

Like Mary's lamb in Imperial Wars-how history rhymes

In the shadow of Remembrance Day, the calamity of war should haunt us. But sadly, contemporary debates regarding our defence policy rhyme uncomfortably with those heard during the slide to disaster before the First World War.

February 19, 2022

Why a Multiculturalism Act would help reduce Covid impacts on minorities

To be truly inclusive and equitable, Australia needs a federal statutory body that represents and supports people from ethnic communities.

February 9, 2022

Population decline isn't happening fast enough to save planet

_By 2050 we will consume three earths per year. Degradation of land and the oceans, biodiversity loss and global warming are the direct results.

February 3, 2022

In sport and in society, women eclipse the antics of boorish males

While women display their abilities in fields monopolised by men, people in power not only allow these talents to be wasted but actively inhibit them.

January 21, 2022

Mutations of crisis management: how Australia squandered its Covid advantage

After two years of relative success in protecting our population from the worst effects of the virus, a sudden change in crisis management has left Australians in dire straits

October 31, 2021

Nobel Prize reveals how much money matters in education and carries a lesson for Australia

Research by a Nobel Prize for Economics winner shows the impact of education funding on the future success of students is greater than previously believed.

October 21, 2021

Australia has a moral duty to the people of Afghanistan

As home to the fourth largest population of Hazaras in the world, Australia has a responsibility to protect the Hazaras in Afghanistan.

October 7, 2021

In a post-Covid Australia, telehealth underpins the future for healthcare

Given the success of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic for patients and health case workers, it’s about time it was made permanent in Australia.

October 5, 2021

Could AUKUS open a Chinese window to international leadership?

While there may still be quite a bit of debate about the strategic merits of AUKUS, theres one thing most people agree about: China is not very happy.

October 3, 2021

New language, new national future: Australia is now an AUKUState

Move over “digger”, “dinkum” and “ocker”, a new Australian term is to be added to the English language at the highest levels of national discourse: the new verb, AUKUStrate and proper noun, AUKUState.

August 28, 2021

In Memory of 'Hal' Wootten (1922-2021)

Much has already been written about the inspiring life of Hal Wootten who passed away on July 27 at the age of 98. I do not want to recount all his achievements here but only recall my brief but brilliant encounters with Hal and his enormous contribution to understand and support the Palestinian cause.

February 10, 2025

Enchained to a world departed? Australian policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

The two-state solution is no longer viable, and Australia must rethink its approach to Israel-Palestine in line with its evolving values and demographics. Instead of privileging one ethno-religious group, Australia should advocate for a single democratic framework ensuring equality and shared sovereignty for both Israelis and Palestinians.

January 4, 2025

Jimmy Carter, Israel and the apartheid question

The late centenarian, Jimmy Carter, occupied a difficult position in the line of imperial magistrates we know as US presidents. Coming to power in the aftermath of murderous US adventurism in Indochina and the debauching of the presidency by Richard Nixon (“when the president does it, it means that it is not illegal”), he took an axe to the welfare state, nourished the strapping, dangerous creature that would become neoliberalism, and made foreign policy decisions of disastrous consequence, punctuated by such successes as normalising relations between Egypt and Israel.

February 19, 2024

The new Dark Age

Sometimes one event encapsulates the zeitgeist. Alexei Navalnys death from what are almost certainly unnatural causes is one such moment. One of the most heroic figures of our time appears to have been eliminated by one of the most despicable and loathsome. The only thing that is really surprising given Vladimir Putins track record is the brazenness of his apparent murder.

December 23, 2023

Environment: 2023 - increased GHG emissions, increased atmospheric GHG levels and record high temperatures

Despite what we have we seen and learnt during 2023, the COP meeting failed again to take strong action on fossil fuels. Is nature for nature or only for humans?

December 17, 2023

Australia has so far resisted American populism and dysfunction. This is why

Trumpian populism has not yet taken hold here. Why? Perhaps because this countrys not quite as unequal as others.

October 22, 2023

Divide and fool: The Coalitions misinformation campaign

In a recent Q and A, the oppositions shadow minister for Climate Change and Energy Ted OBriens improbable aim was to convince Australia that small nuclear reactors (SMRs) could replace our coal fired power plants and lead us to carbon neutrality. If you examine the economics of SMRs the proposition has to be classified as an absurdity with no chance of becoming a reality in the foreseeable future if ever.

February 27, 2022

We need to get Gonski back on track

The Gonski Report on School Funding was published 10 years ago this month. It promised much to increase equity in education. However, its promise was undermined by fundamental flaws in Labor’s new model and trashed by Coalition governments.

January 28, 2022

Monthly digest on housing affordability and homelessness

This is the latest monthly digest of articles, research reports, policy announcements and other material about housing stress/affordability and homelessness.

January 21, 2022

Greed or need? Privileged schools top the class in avarice

Highly profitable private schools raked in millions from JobKeeper, underlining the deep flaws and inequality in Australia’s school funding system.

December 3, 2021

Patient beware: many a medical practitioner is naught but a dodgy doctor

The ease with which the protections of Australians from healthcare fraud can be breached can only be described as disgraceful, writes John Dwyer.

Pearls and Irritations

John Menadue's Public Policy Journal