October 18, 2025

After decades of struggle, women in China are rewriting their future

The quiet revolution towards upholding women’s rights in China isn’t just about slogans, but involves the hard work of families, educators and policymakers.

October 16, 2025

A deserved defeat for Albanese on freedom of information

Thanks to Opposition leader Sussan Ley, the government’s disgraceful attempt to squeeze the life out of the Freedom of Information Act is as dead as a herring.

December 4, 2025

How the Albanese government kept “jobs for mates” alive

The Albanese government promised to end political patronage in statutory appointments, but has instead chosen a non-binding framework that preserves ministerial discretion and limits accountability.

November 16, 2025

Environment: Paris 2015 generated hope, but not enough climate action

Ten years on from the Paris Agreement, staying within the 1.5oC guardrail seems increasingly unlikely, even though there’s plenty of money to do it. Really, it’s legal to chop bits off the Great Barrier Reef and sell them? Microsoft is struggling to meet its promise to become carbon-free.

November 20, 2025

Five reasons Trump’s economy stinks and 10 things the Dems should do about It

The Trump economy is truly awful for most Americans. Democrats need to show America that they can be better trusted to bring prices down and real wages up.

December 19, 2025

Radar lock or editorial block? The ABC's China-Japan report has blind spot

A story published by the ABC framed a military encounter as an act of aggression. But subsequent details told a more complicated story that Australia’s public broadcaster never revisited.

November 25, 2025

Will there be Liberals around to take power in 2034?

The Liberal Party’s rejection of net-zero and its lack of compelling leadership or clear policy vision has left it floundering with key voter groups. Without a coherent plan to make a difference, it risks a long spell in opposition.

December 16, 2025

2025 in Review: ageing, policy failure and a year of misplaced priorities

Looking back on 2025, a year marked by global turmoil, timid reform at home, policy failure on ageing and a rushed social media ban that mistakes gesture for solution.

January 12, 2026

Best of 2025 - A deserved defeat for Albanese on freedom of information

Thanks to Opposition leader Sussan Ley, the government’s disgraceful attempt to squeeze the life out of the Freedom of Information Act is as dead as a herring.

December 2, 2025

Why our government protects gambling apps but bans TikTok

Australia’s social media restrictions on children were sold as decisive action on harm. But the policy risks becoming symbolic, unenforceable, and ultimately counterproductive.

November 17, 2025

Israeli settler attack on West Bank mosque draws international condemnation

Calls for justice grow as Israeli settlers set Hajja Hamida Mosque ablaze in latest attack on Palestinians in West Bank.

October 20, 2025

As Gaza starts to rebuild, what lessons can be learned from Nagasaki in 1945?

At first, there might not seem to be any immediate similarities between a devastated Nagasaki after the US atomic bombing in 1945 and Gaza today, aside from massive destruction.

October 9, 2025

A time to redouble our efforts for Palestine

Daniel Levy, who knows a thing or two about peace negotiations, warns us that, “The plan is being used to push back against the momentum behind holding Israel accountable, the thing that could actually produce positive change.”

December 10, 2025

Jobs for mates, by design: the government rejects its own integrity review

The government’s response to the Briggs review abandons legislated reform and leaves ministers wide discretion over appointments across the commonwealth.

November 27, 2025

The Dismissal at 50: Albanese condemns the past but avoids real reform

Anthony Albanese condemned the 1975 Dismissal as a partisan ambush. Yet he refuses to pursue the constitutional reforms needed to prevent another vice-regal intervention. Australia remains exposed, and neither government nor public sentiment seems ready for the changes required.

October 21, 2025

Australia’s political parties are moving to their use-by date

Sooner or later Anthony Albanese or his successor will lead the Labor Government to defeat.

November 30, 2025

Environment: It’s official – we aren’t winning the climate fight

The latest UN climate summit avoided even naming fossil fuels, while mounting evidence shows climate damage accelerating – from melting glaciers to declining ocean life.

November 14, 2025

China’s new climate targets show progress but lack ambition

On 24 September 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced China’s updated targets for combatting climate change at the UN Climate Summit.

November 1, 2025

'Forget subsidies': Solar-battery hybrids can deliver 'incredibly competitive' power for big industry

The developer of what stands to be Australia’s biggest battery says the new breed of hybrid solar and storage projects, starting to dominate the national renewables pipeline, can power new and existing industrial energy needs at an “incredibly competitive” cost – and without government handouts.

October 10, 2025

A masterclass in agency: What Singapore can teach Australia about China

Singapore’s new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong sat down with the ABC on 2 October and offered something rare in Australia’s China debate: clarity, confidence, and a middle-power strategy that doesn’t involve shouting or submission.

October 8, 2025

Inequality and the future of democracy

Rising inequality and declining living standards have posed a threat to democracy in several democracies, but so far not in Australia. However, the increasing inequality of wealth, driven by housing becoming unaffordable without rich parents, is a threat.

January 15, 2026

Best of 2025 - OFFICIAL – Israel’s proposed death-penalty law is a war crime

Not satisfied it seems with the continued genocide of Palestinians, Israel is now looking to execute Palestinian prisoners by introducing a death penalty law.

January 6, 2026

Best of 2025 - Re-elected Albanese Govt must condemn Israel's brutality and cut ties

On 5 May, the Israeli Parliament approved plans to annex and occupy Gaza. These plans have been discussed for months. This is a blatant mission to ethnically cleanse Gaza, advancing Israel’s colonial intentions to take over the territory and rid it of Palestinians.

December 21, 2025

Environment: More good recycling is needed – emphasis on good

Low levels of plastic recycling are bad for human health and the environment. For lead, high levels of dangerous recycling are doing the damage. Northern Australia’s vast, ecologically relatively intact savannas are undervalued.

December 5, 2025

How media coverage helps normalise the far right

Media coverage does more than report on the far right. Through language choices, sensationalism and false balance, journalism can help shift racist politics into the mainstream.

November 8, 2025

Revealed: Secret plans to introduce media censorship in Australia

Moves to restrict just what journalists can report on defence and intelligence matters are underway – and journalists need to get up to speed fast.

October 7, 2025

Rio Tinto flags early closure of Queensland’s biggest coal generator as LNP prepares new energy plan

The clock is now ticking for the ageing Gladstone coal-fired power station after its owners told the Australian Energy Market Operator that they’re bringing forward the closure date of the biggest power plant in Queensland by six years, to March 2029.

December 6, 2025

Israel’s NGO rules are shutting out humanitarian aid from Gaza

Rules introduced by Israel in 2025 are being used to block humanitarian organisations from operating in the occupied Palestinian territories, limiting aid delivery and silencing advocacy.

November 20, 2025

Fatal free lunch

Indonesia’s free meals for kids program has left thousands of youngsters with food poisoning, and returned the country to the bad old days of military influence.

November 11, 2025

Whitlam and the White House – Part 2

“Australia and the territories under its control have become increasingly important to the US defence and space establishments in recent years as a site for satellite tracking stations, nuclear test detection facilities, space research and related activities. With ample space, relatively advanced technology, political stability and conservative government, Australia has become a uniquely desirable base for both military and civilian programs involving operations in the Southern Hemisphere.” – White House position paper, 1962, quoted in Brian Toohey, Secret.

December 20, 2025

Choosing hope in an uncertain world

In an age of political, ecological and social strain, hope is often mistaken for denial. But real hope is neither passive nor naïve – it is a choice to keep acting, even without guarantees.

October 14, 2025

Disarming extremism in the algorithmic age

Amelie Szczecinski is one of six talented young Australians who will travel to the UN General Assembly in New York next week as part of the Global Voices project.

January 8, 2026

Best of 2025 - Flawed Hero, flawed decision: The War Memorial’s institutional cowardice

The Australian War Memorial remains one of Australia’s most cherished national institutions, attracting a million visitors, mainly tourists, to Canberra each year.

December 12, 2025

UN report: acting on climate now would make the world richer, not poorer

A major UN report finds that investing in climate action would deliver enormous economic gains, while failure to act would slash growth, drive instability and cost millions of lives.

January 16, 2026

Best of 2025 - ASIO's Mike Burgess and a lust for the limelight

In succumbing to a lust for the limelight, the ASIO director, Mike Burgess, is not making it easier for the government and citizens to retain confidence in him and the organisation he’s trying to run.

November 2, 2025

Taking from the young, giving to the old: How our tax system is letting us down

Australians are retiring with unprecedented levels of wealth. This wealth, which is primarily held in housing, investment properties and superannuation, allows retirees to draw incomes to support their retirement.

October 23, 2025

Muted response to Trump's appropriation of Christianity

“…and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert…” ( Acts 20:29–31).

January 9, 2026

Best of 2025 - Koalas, carbon credits and the fine print of conservation

We congratulate the NSW Government for establishing the Great Koala National Park, which will protect a nationally significant koala population.

December 15, 2025

Trump’s empire of hubris and thuggery

Donald Trump’s latest National Security Strategy memorandum treats the freedom to coerce others as the essence of US sovereignty. It is an ominous document that will – if allowed to stand – come back to haunt the United States.

December 13, 2025

Journalist files defence in anti-Semitism test case

Mary Kostakidis, a national TV news presenter in Australia for two decades, has asked a federal judge to throw out the Zionist Federation’s charge against her of racially vilifying Jews, reports Joe Lauria.

November 17, 2025

'A national humiliation': Australia at bottom of new renewables ranking

As the Coalition abandons net zero, Andrew Forrest has quietly moved on not just to net zero, but to real zero.

November 23, 2025

Henry Reynolds’ bold, new book takes a top-end view of Australian history

First Nations people please be advised this article speaks of racially discriminating moments in history, including the distress and death of First Nations people.

November 14, 2025

The boy who cried antisemitism

For two years, we’ve been told Australia is drowning in antisemitism. Every protest for Palestinian human rights, every mural, every chant criticising Israel has been hauled up as “evidence.”

January 7, 2026

Best of 2025 - Climate change risk to our coastal cities

Confronting the nation’s coastal urban cities as it approaches 2055, 30 years on, will be both higher sea levels and air and water temperatures.

December 4, 2025

Selling out our sovereignty

Revelations of secret F-35 fighter jet parts shipments to Israel have exposed a yawning hole in Australia’s sovereign national defence.

January 13, 2026

Best of 2025 - China, US or us? Australia’s Upper Path in the global minerals race

The headlines are breathless: “ China versus the world,” proclaimed The Australian, quoting some very important people from the sheriff’s office urging allies to “decouple” from Beijing and unite against China’s “takeover of global rare earth supply chains”.

December 22, 2025

New Year’s Day and the promise that does not last

New Year’s Day promises renewal, then lets it slip away. That fleeting openness may be the point – not a failure, but a reminder about how meaning actually appears in our lives.

October 21, 2025

The migration debate in Australia

Australia’s population growth rate is returning to normal. Instead, of cutting migration, the solution to Australia’s housing crisis is to increase the rate of new dwelling approvals and completions.

October 12, 2025

Universal jurisdiction: Australia’s crucial role in international criminal justice

Samar Batool Athar is one of six talented young Australians who will travel to the UN General Assembly in New York next week as part of the Global Voices project.

Pearls and Irritations

John Menadue's Public Policy Journal