December 15, 2022

Indonesian sex ban: One law for us, another for them?

It seems Indonesias new bonk-ban laws are discriminatory and racist. Bad news if you believe legal systems should be impartial, but good tidings for bule (white skin foreigners). So sayeth a governor.

October 22, 2022

The profoundly stupid narrative that nuclear brinkmanship is safety and de-escalation is danger

Of all the face-meltingly stupid narratives that have been circulated about the US proxy war in Ukraine, the dumbest so far has got to be the forthcoming budget should be judged principally in terms of how well it sets us up to solve these fundamental fiscal problems facing the nation.

October 8, 2022

How Israel practices apartheid

Between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, Israel has built and reinforced a single regime of rule to ensure Jewish Israeli supremacy and domination over the indigenous Palestinian people, who are politically and geographically fragmented into different categories in which they have lesser, little, or no rights in comparison to Israeli Jews depending on their status (second-class citizen, subject to military rule, or refugee). This is textbook apartheid.

January 23, 2025

Extreme events, causation and politics

Climate Politics: Causation can be complex, often multi-layered, multi-faceted and with links between its elements. In the context of weather-related disasters, it has to be attributed with great care, and in recognition of the complicated thing that is the environment whether natural or human. And we need to note the motives of those who attribute causation; they can quickly politicise events and condition people’s views as to what underlies those events.

November 20, 2024

Australia’s public policy settings need to change to reflect our new reality

Many of Australia’s public policy settings were designed decades ago. Since that time, society and the economy have changed radically. Australia’s outdated policy settings now extend to matters as important and diverse as taxation, competition policy, drug laws, reproductive healthcare, the carbon transition, media regulation and the organisation of our parliaments. Change is urgent. This is how we achieve reform, write Scott Hamilton and Stuart Kells.

February 29, 2024

The Great Lismore Flood: Revisiting the use of floodplains

Last week saw the release of the NSW State Disaster Mitigation Plan which outlines a blueprint for managing future disasters; this week marks the second anniversary of the great flood at Lismore and places downstream in the Richmond River valley. This is a moment to ask how we are going in NSW as far as the future management of floods is concerned.

November 16, 2022

The truth about Hong Kong is too difficult for the western media to grasp

Early November saw Hong Kong host a gathering of world financial/banking leaders, lay on a successful Fintech conference, and then host the first Hong Kong Rugby 7s tournament since 2019, which Australia won!

March 17, 2022

Russia and Ukraine

Moscow (read Putin) had his reasons for wanting to invade Ukraine.

March 28, 2025

Behind Australia's antisemitism hoax

Australia’s recent wave of political scaremongering and hyperbolic reporting about antisemitic attacks on Jewish schools, synagogues, businesses and a day care centre has finally subsided, but its impact is still being eagerly exploited by right-wing media outlets, pro-Israel lobby groups and politicians of all stripes.

December 2, 2024

Cartoon commentary

November 8, 2024

A controversial graduation address

On Monday, October 21st, Joe de Bruyn, trade union heavyweight, former National President of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, former member of the National Executive of the Australian Labor Party, committed Catholic, was awarded an honorary doctorate at the Australian Catholic University. As is customary, he was also invited to deliver the occasional address to the students, their parents and their guests at the graduation ceremony.

December 16, 2024

Just say yes, Minister. It’s prison reform made simple

Many years ago, a number of lawyers lunching with an ACT judicial officer bemoaned their lot as a new Children’s Court Magistrate was rapidly filling the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre with their young clients.

November 30, 2024

Inside out: powerful advocates have judges' ears

The ACT Supreme Court was the scene of two uniquely powerful demonstrations of advocacy on the one evening last week.

January 27, 2024

Howard still ducks Iraq question

Former prime minister John Howard has defended his record on committing Australia to the Iraq war. But we are no closer to fully understanding his reasons.

January 23, 2024

Can Dutton wage culture wars and chew gum at the same time?

As Australia Day looms its not surprising that Peter Dutton has yet again found another culture war to prosecute this time against Woolworths decision not to stock Australia Day themed goods.

October 29, 2022

This Techno-life: to simplify or not to simplify!

Understanding the difference between needs and wants is an essential lesson in the quest for simplicity.

January 11, 2025

Australian social cohesion under threat

The most comprehensive study of Australian social cohesion — The Scanlon Foundation Research Institute Social Cohesion Mapping 2024 Report — has highlighted strains in Australia society which are not yet dire, but are disturbing.

March 1, 2024

Melbournes F1 grand prix a financial car crash for Victoria

30 years ago, then Premier Jeff Kennett told Victorians the grand prix would not cost taxpayers a cent. $1 billion later, it is obvious he was wrong. This is what Victorian taxpayers have paid so far to host a four-day Formula 1 car race. And the bill just keeps growing.

January 14, 2024

Responding to climate change is a people problem

Climate experts have issued a grim warning for Australians this summer, predicting that 2023 will be the hottest year on record. While the Australian government has recognised the threat of climate change and has committed billions of dollars in disaster relief and the energy transition, the challenges and opportunities they present are unlikely to be met without a significant investment in the skills and qualifications needed.

February 13, 2025

Making the commonweal turn, turn, turn again out on Highway 61

“A Complete Unknown,” James Mangold’s current biopic movie about Bob Dylan, starring Timothee Chalamet (also star of Dune), has arrived at a perfectly disturbed and disturbing moment. The period of history this film chronicles from 60 years ago signalled that “change is a comin’"’ for several generations at once.

February 4, 2025

Letter from Hong Kong

As I experience my 51st Chinese New Year here in Hong Kong, with the arrival of the year of the Snake, it seems appropriate to write a few words about this remarkable city.

November 15, 2024

"An integral part of China": America, Taiwan and Elon Musk

The outcome in the recent US presidential election may yet push Taiwan in directions at variance with those advocated in a new article published in the America journal Foreign Affairs, which argues that: “ China’s Gray-Zone Offensive Against Taiwan is Backfiring”.

December 23, 2022

Labor surges after 'falling across the line'

A recap on this years federal election result, prompted by a poll in the Financial Review this Monday and a comment by its political editor that the Albanese government was starting to consolidate power in its own right after falling across the line at the May 21 election’.

July 3, 2021

Australian universities and the anxiety of Chinese influence

Sometime in 2010, a graduate journalism student from China asked to meet with me. She needed to interview at least two people for one of her assignments, and her chosen topic was the media in China and freedom of expression. She told me that she had already spoken with the well-known Australian writer Frank Moorhouse about his decision not to visit China as a protest against Chinas treatment of political dissident Liu Xiaobo. Moreover, now she wanted to talk to me, too.

April 3, 2025

The importance of excellent Independent MPs

I joined the Liberal Party when it was liberal. After Malcolm Fraser lost the 1983 election, the head office of the Victorian Division was dominated by a few men with strong business interests and a conviction that government should not interfere with the way business operates. Social issues did not seem to be important.

March 11, 2025

Discombobulating the media election campaign coverage

The priestly pundit caste in the media is well into their election coverage rituals while the political parties are busy adjusting their strategies to tailor their offerings to these ritual needs.

February 26, 2025

USAID withdrawal: Rethinking how we tackle poverty

The withdrawal of USAID has sent shockwaves through the NGO sector in Cambodia, sparking concern about the future of vital programs.

April 5, 2024

Labor is slipping in the polls - Weekly Roundup

What a flat white coffee reveals about our economy, $27 billion on the table for state governments, nothing about the Bruce Lehrmann defamation case, and Labor is slipping in the polls. Read on for the weekly roundup of links to articles, podcasts, reports and other media on current economic and political issues.

March 21, 2024

On Syria, sanctions, terror and war - an open letter to Australian parliamentarians

When we choose not to show empathy for the people of Syria, it leads us to ignore their countrys ancient history and the rich fabric of Syrian society today.

December 16, 2023

New review makes groundbreaking call for transformation of Australias school system

The results from the OECDs PISA tests released last week showed that in Australia demography is destiny, revealing that by the time young people reach Year 9 a staggering five years of learning separates students from advantaged and disadvantaged backgrounds. This week, a major report advanced a compelling explanation for our educational woes - and pointed to the way to immediate and long-term solutions.

October 14, 2023

Films that help us understand Occupied Palestine

The 12th Palestine Film Festival has been postponed. This is not the time to hold a film festival. It is time to mourn the dead, pay our respects to those suffering and work together to bring an immediate end to the ongoing atrocities against innocent civilians.

January 28, 2023

George Pell: Enigma variations or the real thing?

While opinion leaders, politicians and believers seek to package George Pell in words or in the crypt of St Mary’s Basilica I am interested in some unpacking, using two prys. Two questions.

January 26, 2023

National security after Russias "special military operation: Kazakhstan and China

In the wake of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a “special military operation” in Ukraine, Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, have been reevaluating their foreign policy. These nations are seeking to strike a balance between their relationship with Russia and their engagement with other countries and international organisations.

November 13, 2021

Sunday environmental round up.

Fossil capital (grateful nod to Andreas Malm) holds up climate action in Glasgow and Canberra, a fishy resuce, the vicious CO2 circle.

March 16, 2021

Afghanistan warcrimes: best we forget

The council of the Australian War Memorial, including Tony Abbott and Kerry Stokes, have doubled down on their support of alleged Australian war-criminals and transformed the Memorial from a solemn veneration of Australia’s war dead into a protection racket.

January 31, 2025

A massive mandate?

Donald Trump and the MAGA gang point to the ‘massive mandate’ he obtained to justify any policy he may implement.

January 6, 2025

Open access. Break the paywall. Reclaim knowledge now

In my academic career, I’ve always advocated for not-for-profit academic journals. These platforms support academic freedom and align with the principle that research should benefit society, not merely serve the interests of profit-driven corporations. Unfortunately, the academic publishing landscape, dominated by five major commercial players—Elsevier, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, Springer Nature, and SAGE—has become a bastion of profit, with universities and researchers paying steep costs for access to their own work.

November 4, 2024

Doubt, distrust, fear, and uncertainty surround the U.S. election process

With only days until the US Presidential election on 5 November and with polls calling the race 50:50. Michael Lester in discussion with Amelia Lester, Deputy Editor, Foreign Policy magazine, Washington DC, discuss what the conduct of the campaign tells us about the health of American democracy and the integrity of its electoral processes and institutions.

January 18, 2024

Efforts to suppress Palestinian history defeated

From the first days in their Jewish day schools and youth organisations, young Jews are drilled with the lie that Palestine was a land without people for a people without a land. From its inception, the Zionist movement has sought to suppress Palestinian history and narratives. Whenever there are exhibitions or events or publications featuring Palestinian artists, writers or speakers, there is a huge geschrei from the usual suspects in the Zionist propaganda machine, protesting at this example of antisemitism.

August 28, 2021

"Lockdown"

A lockdown poem.

March 25, 2024

The Tasmanian election result is a challenge to improve democracy in Australia

The recent decision by PM Albanese not to proceed with an important ALP election promise unless the Opposition supports the proposal surely runs counter to the two-party culture often claimed to be a holy aspect of the Westminster political system. At issue is the ALP’s promise to protect the right of religious schools to practice their faith while also shielding teachers and students from discrimination on the basis of sexuality.

October 7, 2023

Flagging support: Zelenskyy loses favour in Washington

Things did not go so well this time around. When the worn Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy turned up banging on the doors of Washingtons powerful on September 21, he found fewer open hearts and an increasingly large number of closed wallets. The old ogre of national self-interest seemed to be presiding and was in no mood to look upon the desperate leader with sweet acceptance.

March 29, 2024

Echos of our lost home in Gaza

A Palestinian family’s journey from the Beit Tima massacres to Gaza.

January 29, 2024

Labors tax plan fails low paid workers

The Albanese Government was right to change its previous position on the already legislated Stage 3 tax cuts and to seek a fairer and more equitable taxation system for all Australians. However, its proposed changes fail to deal sufficiently with the increasing tax bites into the incomes of low paid working Australians. The focus on middle Australia has diverted attention away from those who have traditionally looked to Labor to represent their interests.

November 5, 2022

The Albanese reset: Stopping boats while treating onshore asylum seekers decently

In his message for this years World Day of Migrants and Refugees which is entitled Building the future with migrants and refugees, Pope Francis says: No one must be excluded. Gods plan is essentially inclusive and gives priority to those living on the existential peripheries. Among them are many migrants and refugees, displaced persons, and victims of trafficking. The Kingdom of God is to be built with them, for without them it would not be the Kingdom that God wants. The inclusion of those most vulnerable is the necessary condition for full citizenship in Gods Kingdom.

November 4, 2022

Sex, drugs and confusion: Sharia law in Bali?

Bali tourism is slowly picking up as Covid apparently retreats. The new threats are laws on drugs, religion and sex.

March 25, 2025

When war is around be careful what you wish for!

If anyone is yet to be disgusted with war and the reckless use of armed force, recent news from Gaza and Ukraine will change your mind.

December 29, 2024

Why do Southeast Asian countries want to join BRICS?

In October 2024, four key Southeast Asian countries became partners of BRICS, making the organisation much closer to home for Australians. So why have Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam put themselves on a path to membership?

October 19, 2024

Jack Iverson was, my father often told me, the finest bowler to whom he ever kept

Playing against England, in the home Ashes series of 1950–51, Iverson led the Australian bowling averages with 21 wickets at 15.24 runs per wicket. Bamboozling the Poms, in one Test he got 6 for 27. A little known fact is that Jack Iverson’s highest score in all five Tests was 1 not out.

Pearls and Irritations

John Menadue's Public Policy Journal