April 2, 2024

Sledgehammer immigration removal legislation

The governments new legislation represents a sledgehammer approach to twin immigration removal problems - non-cooperation by people who dont want to be removed from Australia on the one hand and non-cooperation by their country of citizenship on the other. These problems are quite tricky, but they are not new. Alternative approaches are needed.

March 25, 2024

We now need, it seems, a Voice for bigots

The best argument against having an explicit legislated or constitutional right of freedom of religion in Australia comes right out of the playbook of the No campaign during the referendum on a constitutional Voice for Indigenous Australians. Theres no particular problem of giving expression to ones beliefs in this country, and almost any attempt to express such a freedom would end up creating more problems, and possibly more restrictions than it solves.

November 26, 2023

Deception: Radicalised groups are infiltrating Australian democracy in your town

West Australias council elections seem a strange place to pinpoint a warning about American radicalising political games infiltrating the Australian landscape. While it is strange, it is nonetheless important.

October 29, 2023

Disability care is still all about us without us

Any talk about disability in Australia is very likely to quickly lead to mention of the System, which controls everything in the lives of People With Disability.

March 19, 2023

To all who care about humanitys and the planets future

Humanity has reached a tipping point. It is time for governments, international institutions and people everywhere to take stock and act with renewed urgency.

February 16, 2023

Jim Chalmers new economics: a frontal assault on capitalism?

It’s no surprise that Jim Chalmers gentle challenge to neoliberal economics has generated an often rabid and intensely hostile response from the Murdoch media. To be hoped for is a more reasoned, informed national debate which focusses on, as Chalmers points to, fundamental changes to our economic environment.

December 1, 2022

You shall not kill

Amidst wars and rumours of wars, can people of faith help the human family hear afresh what the creator is saying to us? You shall not kill.

November 22, 2022

Victorian Elections: Liberals under siege from extremist religious groups

The Victorian election is a mess. This is the product of the destruction of our conservative forces by international right wing radicalism; for people in that sphere discrediting democracy is the desirable first step in dismantling the status quo. For the rest of us, it is a threat.

November 17, 2022

Our media is failing us

At a moment, when one side of politics has abandoned the bases of democracy as an impediment to their grasp on power, we need journalists holding them to account rather than gaslighting the public, normalising the rot.

October 22, 2022

News Corp is normalising fascistic politics

The radical right, and in particular, Murdochs News Corp, are laundering the dirty ideas of the people deploying fascistic politics to make them seem normal conservative thought.

January 14, 2022

Treadmarks on the taxpayer: Australias $3.5 billion tank folly

The last batch were kept in blissful quarantine, untouched by conflict. But better to feed the US military machine than act on global warming.

January 14, 2025

Public and private schools are partners in educating all Australian children

John Frew’ s recent essay asserts that public schools are increasingly burdened with students facing complex challenges while private schools lure more desirable students with questionable claims of better academic outcomes and stricter discipline.

January 8, 2025

If only... 22 reasons to regret Australia's missed opportunities

Everyone has the odd “if only” thought from time to time. If only you had made a different career choice, if only you had not said the things you have said, or if only you had not done some of the things you have done. All those done and not done moments – those decisions and those things you did which, when you wake up at night, have you squirming with anguish and/or embarrassment.

November 21, 2024

Trump's wake-up call to Australia's leaders

Trump’s anti-China 60% import tax barrier will weaken China’s economy and is predicted to have flow on effects impacting negatively on Australia’s economy. Will our political leaders now realise that Australia’s involvement in a military war against China for which they are furiously preparing, would have a devastating impact on our economy and Australian life generally as all trade with China would cease in such a scenario?

March 16, 2024

When good people do bad things

What does it mean when good people do bad things?

February 18, 2024

Pigs might fly: Australian aviations delusional emissions future

Australian aviation is in the news again. Having ripped off passengers, illegally sacked workers, and impacted the health of residents under airport flight paths, the industry has now received $30m from taxpayers to manufacture sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). And investors and airlines are clamouring for more.

February 4, 2024

Damaging social cohesion

We all have a responsibility to build trust, encourage a sense of belonging and a community of welcome and optimism.

October 4, 2023

Department of Home Affairs contradicts every sensible principle of organisation design

What a fabulous trove The Pezzullo Papers are. The hundreds of recently disclosed text messages sent by the Home Affairs Secretary Mr Michael Pezzullo to a person described as a Liberal Party powerbroker are morbidly fascinating. Poor Pezzullo in a few days he attracted as much public commentary, most of it unflattering, as platoons of traditionally reticent departmental Secretaries would cop in their lifetimes and afterwards.

October 30, 2022

One country, two systems: Judiciary upholds Hong Kongs legal system and way of life

Since Hong Kong was reunified with the motherland in 1997, its fortunes have been guided by the Basic Law, its mini-constitution. This guarantees that its capitalist system and way of life will remain unchanged for 50 years, and that it enjoys a high degree of autonomy.

October 4, 2022

Dated and fractured: Optus and data protections Down Under

Things are not getting better for Optus, a subsidiary of the Singapore-owned Singtel and Australias second largest telecommunications company. Responsible for one of Australias largest data breaches, the beleaguered company is facing burning accusations and questions on various fronts. It is also proving to be rather less than forthcoming about details as to what has been compromised in the leak.

December 3, 2024

‘Dark day for humanity’ as Australia chooses cruelty in Migration Bill changes

Refugee and refugee support groups Australia-wide are deeply concerned about the extremely damaging implications of Australia’s new migration laws which are founded on principles of punishment rather than human rights protection.

November 30, 2024

Cartoon commentary

November 14, 2024

Australia’s school system has lost its moorings

Lack of leadership by successive Australian governments has created a rift between rhetoric and reality that has played a part in eroding public confidence and trust in our school system and generating anxiety for families, teachers and students.

November 12, 2024

Dutton's failure on border protection

Peter Dutton and the Murdoch press are celebrating Trump’s anti-immigration fuelled victory. While he may not use Trump’s extreme language such as ‘migrants are poisoning the blood’, or that they are ‘eating the dogs’, his anti-immigration rhetorical skills are his best pathway to the Lodge.

March 31, 2024

Managerialism is crushing the human connection: The care economy series

Unpacking the care economy, Dr Robbie Lloyd investigates some of the key issues impacting our communities in a series of articles that explore ageing, disability, mental health reform, the challenges of health policy and reform, drugs and alcohol and domestic family violence. (A repost from 2023).

January 27, 2024

Albanese government must apply lessons from UK post office scandal

Albanese government must apply lessons from UK post office scandal to save Australia Post and licensees.

January 14, 2024

Help, its all Iran's fault

February 22, 2023

The difficulties of health reform

When he was Treasurer Paul Keating complained that the resident galah in every pet shop across Australia was talking about microeconomic reform. Over the last few months the galahs have learned a new script: health reform.

January 25, 2023

Don't change the date, just the name

In noting that debate about Australia Day began early this year, Henry Reynolds has made a very strong case for not celebrating on that day. That case is well made, however, the simple problem remains that 26 January 1788 remains the single most significant day in Australian history.

January 13, 2023

Can Bazball save Test cricket?

Test cricket is sometimes its own worst enemy, regularly shooting itself in the foot. Can Bazball save it? And can the playing conditions be applied more effectively?

February 23, 2025

Could present horror possibly trigger future hope? One unlikely human attribute just might help...

Amid the hideous chaos erupting around the world at the moment, might there be some possible silver lining? Something existing at a deeper, more fundamental level than all the uproar, wars, terrorism, inflicted hunger, wretched misery? A tiny chink through which we might glimpse, if not a radical solution, at least a glimmer of light? Some hopeful candle flickering in the window?

February 15, 2025

Seeking the truth on Syria: Tulsi Gabbard vs the ABC

“If Barack Obama decides to attack the Syrian regime, he has ensured — for the very first time in history — that the United States will be on the same side as al-Qa’ida.” Robert Fisk, The Independent, 28 August 2013

“I hate that we have leaders who cozy up to Islamist extremists, minimising them to so-called rebels.” Tulsi Gabbard to US Senate Committee Hearing, 30 January 2025

December 3, 2024

Does Albo even deserve to win?

Not since Alaska has the US won a nation so cheaply.

October 8, 2023

The cost of lies: radical honesty has never been more urgent

“Every lie owes a debt to the truth, sooner or later that debt is paid.” - Soviet nuclear engineer Valery Alekseevich Legasov on the consequences of deceit and denial.

January 29, 2023

The sound of silence on school education in NSW

The failure of this countrys school system to give many students a fair go and a fair share of resources did not feature on the last Federal election agenda. Nor has it surfaced to date as a key issue in the NSW state election. What does this silence mean?

January 4, 2022

Dear friends: a notable Australian thinker looks to a better 2022

This is an extract from the ninth Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year message of the former Labor MP, science minister and national president of the ALP.

July 4, 2020

Five Eyes membership threatens New Zealands foreign policy independence

Because of our membership of the Five Eyes, New Zealand’s ability to act independently is seriously restricted.

March 10, 2025

AUKUS: the central point of strategic failure

Donald Trump loves a deal. With the ageing Virginia class submarines, instead of decommissioning them, what better than to sell them to a subservient nation who not only will pay billions for them, but use them as a compliant extension of the US navy?

December 28, 2024

Two worlds, different pain

“Gaza is now the world capital of child amputation. And that doesn’t even cover the true horror, because Israel blocks any anesthesia from entering Gaza as a means of imposing further agony on the population that they are subjecting to genocide.” – Former senior United Nations human rights official Craig Mokhiber

February 14, 2024

Look at them jammed together

January 10, 2023

How to win back women: The Liberal Party review

The Liberal Party Review has once again recommended a 50 per cent target for women but the apparent belief that this will win back electoral support from women is misplaced.

January 25, 2022

The threat of nuclear winter hangs over our warming planet

Even a limited nuclear war would inject enough smoke and dust into the atmosphere to threaten the survival of our species.

January 23, 2021

Let's build something decent from the rubble of this empire

The US empire will fall sooner or later. All empires do. So, this crisis, just at the start of the Biden and Harris years, is a fine time to begin thinking about what might be built in its place.

January 11, 2025

The Merry telegram: How US aid and economic shock therapy deformed Russia

Just before last Christmas, the National Security Archive based at George Washington University, published an illuminating cable on US-Russian relations. Authored by political analyst E. Wayne Merry in March 1994 from Moscow’s US Embassy, it was sharply prescient – so much so that it had to be sent by the Dissent Channel to limit its incendiary worth. It’s theme: the failings and potentially insidious effects of US “shock therapy” for the post-Communist Russian economy, along with aid that was endangering, not just Russian pride, but the relationship between Washington and Moscow.

November 23, 2024

Gross inequality and economic injustice: How did it come to this?

“Remoteness between ownership and operation … is an evil in the relations between men, likely or certain in the long run to set up strains and enmities which will bring to nought the financial calculation.” - John Maynard Keynes

November 6, 2024

I have nothing left to give. I need your help

“I need your help… I have taken this whistleblowing as far as I can. This has been going for eight long years for me. Louise Beaston and I are at breaking point. Correction, we broke some time ago”, writes ATO whistleblower Richard Boyle. Can you help? Show your support for Richard Boyle at the Adelaide District Court on Monday 11 November from 9:00-9:30am.

October 17, 2024

A campaign to raise awareness of aged care star ratings is wasting public money

Last week the government launched a media campaign to “build awareness, trust, and use” of the system of aged care star ratings.

October 10, 2024

Australia should endorse and promote the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

Scientists overwhelmingly agree that climate change is threatening life on this planet and that the root cause is the burning of fossil fuels. But what are we doing about it? More importantly, what are our so-called Leaders doing to address the threat?

January 21, 2024

Media must reform to restore public trust: Schmidt

We live in an age where there has never been greater access to information, nor greater doubt about its accuracy. An information explosion risks blowing apart the foundational workings of our democracy. Where we source our information from, who we listen to, who we trust, has changed.

Pearls and Irritations

John Menadue's Public Policy Journal