-
Subscribe to our weekly and daily Pearls and Irritations newsletter!
-
Most viewed recently
-
Recent posts
- TONY WALKER. Australia has a China problem and we can’t leave it to faceless spooks (Sydney Morning Herald, 16 June 2019) 18 June 2019
- MUNGO MACCALLUM. Ramping up the anti union campaign. 18 June 2019
- STUART REES, Hong Kong, Canberra, Carrie Lam and Mike Pezzullo 18 June 2019
- MARGARET REYNOLDS. Queensland – A Special Place? 18 June 2019
- RICHARD BROINOWSKI. Inverting Reality in Persian Gulf 18 June 2019
Categories
- Arts and Reviews (50)
- Defence/Security (918)
- Drug Reform (30)
- Economy (1,268)
- Education (263)
- Environment and climate (530)
- Health (621)
- Housing (93)
- Human Rights (451)
- Indigenous affairs (82)
- Industrial relations (36)
- Infrastructure (206)
- International Affairs (2,038)
- Asia (384)
- Links (10)
- Media (612)
- NBN (83)
- Politics (3,300)
- Refugees, Immigration (666)
- Religion and Faith (646)
- SERIES: Freedom, opportunity and security (60)
- SERIES: Making housing affordable (15)
- Sport (56)
- Technology, start-ups and new media (6)
- Tributes (52)
- Uncategorized (225)
Archives
Recent comments
- Cameron Leckie on NIALL McLAREN IT’S TIME…. TO QUESTION THE US ALLIANCE.
- Charles Lowe on JOHN STAPLETON Australia’s Vicious Assault on Freedom of Speech…
- Bill Legge on LAURIE PATTON. The Assange dilemma. What is journalism in the online age?
- Jim Kable on NOEL TURNBULL. Remember the Alamo, remember the Maine etc etc etc
- Charles Lowe on MARTIN WOLF. The looming 100-year US-China conflict (The Financial Times)
Tag Archives: Brexit
JOHN MENADUE. Brexit means Brexit – or does it? Repost from September 13 2016
After the surprise referendum vote 52-48 for the UK to leave the EU, the new Prime Minister, Teresa May, rejected any suggestion of a new referendum or parliamentary intervention to reverse the ‘advisory’ referendum result. She said “Brexit means Brexit”. … Continue reading
IAN MCAULEY. Learning from the UK election
There are many local factors explaining the comparative fortunes of Theresa May’s Conservative Party and Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party in last week’s UK election. Issues around Brexit are unique to the UK, and May’s campaign was inept. But Corbyn’s comparative … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
Tagged Brexit, elections, European Union, Ian McAuley, Jeremy Corbyn, Theresa May, UK election
1 Comment
MICHAEL KEATING. The British Election and Brexit
Mrs. May called the election ostensibly to strengthen her mandate in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations. Although she failed to strengthen her majority, it is doubtful if the election result will have any impact on the Brexit negotiations.
Posted in International Affairs, Politics
Tagged Brexit, Michael Keating, Theresa May, UK election
Comments Off on MICHAEL KEATING. The British Election and Brexit
GEOFF MILLER. “Decline and Fall of America”? No, but a very difficult patch.
President Trump’s actions, and the international reactions to them, are so bad that the question naturally arises, “are we witnessing the beginning of the long-term decline of the West, and of the US in particular?”
DUNCAN MacLAREN. Brexit: the danger of a no deal and the UK election.
Electioneering in the UK was stopped in homage to the 22 people who died and the many people injured in the bomb attack on a pop concert in Manchester on May 22nd. It didn’t stop the xenophobic call for ending … Continue reading
Posted in International Affairs, Politics
Tagged Brexit, Duncan MacLaren, Jeremy Corbin, NHS, Nicola Sturgeon, Theresa May, UK election, UK polls
2 Comments
DUNCAN MacLAREN. UK General Election: clever cunning or miscalculated folly?
Theresa May’s snap general election decision can be seen as hypocritical in that she ruled this out consistently (and as recently as 20th March) until, the Anglican vicar’s daughter hinted, God told her while hiking in Welsh Snowdonia over Easter … Continue reading
Posted in International Affairs, Politics
Tagged Brexit, Duncan MacLaren, Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland and the UK, Teresa May, UK breakup?, UK election
1 Comment
MARK BEESON. What it is to be popular
At a moment when the world needs informed responses to complex problems that transcend national borders, a retreat to nationalist tub-thumping is the last thing we need. Yes, there are important questions about who ‘we’ are and whom national public … Continue reading
Posted in Media, Politics
Tagged Brexit, Donald Trump, Mark Beeson, media failure, populism
1 Comment
DUNCAN MacLAREN. Article 50 triggered: the farce heats up
Are you ready for another dose of Brexititis? This past week, PM May triggered Article 50, meaning negotiations can begin, after due examination by the 27 remaining states, between the exiting UK (or, at least, the parts that survive) and … Continue reading
Posted in Economy, International Affairs, Politics
Tagged Article 50, Brexit, Donald Tusk, Duncan MacLaren, Northern Ireland and Brexit, Scotland and Brexit, Teresa May
Comments Off on DUNCAN MacLAREN. Article 50 triggered: the farce heats up
DUNCAN MacLAREN. ‘Game On’ as UK Split Looms over Brexit
Just as David Cameron’s idiocy in calling for an EU referendum to appease his rabid right-wing has made him the godfather of Brexit, so May, in treating Scotland like a trinket which the UK has to “keep”, to say nothing … Continue reading
Posted in International Affairs, Politics
Tagged breakup of UK, Brexit, David Cameron, Duncan MacLaren, Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland and EU, Theresa May
2 Comments
IAN McAULEY. Pauline Hanson’s youth support
A recent survey has found surprisingly high levels of support for One Nation among young voters in George Christiansen’s electorate in northern Queensland. At first sight this seems incongruous with the Brexit and Trump votes, which showed younger people were … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
Tagged Brexit, George Christiansen, One Nation, Polls, Queensland, Trump
1 Comment
GEOFF DAVIES. Brexit, Trump and a Rigged System. Part 2 of 2.
Neoliberalism let loose the anarchic forces of free markets just at the time when we most needed them to be restrained and redirected so as not to wreck our planetary home.
Posted in Economy, Environment and climate, Politics
Tagged Brexit, corruption social decline, Geoff Davies, global warming, inequality fair go, neoliberalism, rigged system, Trump
Comments Off on GEOFF DAVIES. Brexit, Trump and a Rigged System. Part 2 of 2.
GEOFF DAVIES. Brexit, Trump and a Rigged System. Part 1 of 2.
Behind the votes for Brexit and Trump lies a simple and widespread perception: the system is rigged in favour of the rich. That perception is accurate. People may lash out at scapegoats and follow false prophets, but their disgust and … Continue reading
Posted in Economy, Politics
Tagged Brexit, corruption, fair go, Geoff Davies, global warming, inequality, neoliberal failure, private debt, rigged system, social decline, Trump
7 Comments
DUNCAN MacLAREN. Scotland, Brexit and the EU.
Brexit: the Constitutional Angle I hate to boast of my prescience but my article in this blog in April 2016 warned, in the case of a successful Brexit vote, of the birth of a “Little England searching for a greatness … Continue reading
Posted in International Affairs, Politics
Tagged Brexit, Duncan MacLaren, European human rights, Northern Ireland, Scottish National Party, Theresa May
Comments Off on DUNCAN MacLAREN. Scotland, Brexit and the EU.
ANDREW MARKUS. Australians more alarmed about state of politics than impact of migration and minorities.
There is no shortage of expert commentary on current shifts in public opinion, understood as a revolt against political elites. Within Europe and the United States interpretations are supported by the British vote to leave the European Union, the increasing … Continue reading
Posted in Media, Politics, Refugees, Immigration
Tagged Andrew Markus, Brexit, Donald Trump, Islam, multiculturalism, race, racism, religion, same-sex marriage, social cohesion, The Conversation, US politics
Comments Off on ANDREW MARKUS. Australians more alarmed about state of politics than impact of migration and minorities.
GRAHAM FREUDENBERG. The travesty of Britain’s greatest legacy – parliamentary government
To my generation which saw the almost bloodless collapse of the Soviet Union, Trump’s election is small beer in the scale of improbabilities. But the combination of Trump and Brexit, so improbable scarcely a year ago, raises a more … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
Tagged Brexit, Donald Trump, Graham Freudenberg, parliamentary government, Western liberalism and Germany
Comments Off on GRAHAM FREUDENBERG. The travesty of Britain’s greatest legacy – parliamentary government
GRAHAM FREUDENBERG on Brexit. ‘They are not laughing now’.
‘They are not laughing now’. So the UKIP leader Nigel Farage gloated in the European Parliament in July 2016. It was not the first time these exact words have been uttered, in the same spirit of vengeful vindication in … Continue reading
MERVYN KING. Which Europe Now?
In this article ‘Which Europe now?’ in the New York Review of Books, Mervyn King says Our political class would do well to recall the words of Confucius: Three things are necessary for government: weapons, food and trust. If … Continue reading
Posted in International Affairs, Politics
Tagged breakdown in trust, Brexit, Mervyn King, New York Review of Books
Comments Off on MERVYN KING. Which Europe Now?
JOHN CARMODY. More on Brexit
Dr John Carmody reflects on the historical journey of the European Union.
Posted in Economy, International Affairs, Politics
Tagged Brexit, John Carmody, Stubborn Mule
1 Comment
TONY SMITH. A major madness
It is only the most naive among us who equate democracy with majoritarianism. The ‘Brexit’ plebiscite certainly returned a majority in favour of Britain leaving the European Union, but the distress caused by the decision shows that the plan … Continue reading
JON STANFORD. Brexit – UK is unprepared.
The thrust of Michael Keating’s essay on Brexit is that the vote in favour of leaving the European Union taken by the British electorate on 23 June will be bad for the UK but will have a minimal impact on … Continue reading
Posted in International Affairs, Politics
Tagged Brexit, future of EU, Jon Stanford, UK preparedness for Brexit
2 Comments
IAN McAULEY. Brexit – retreat to isolationism and discontent of those left behind.
The Brexit vote has given the media a cornucopia of stories – dissent in the British Conservative and Labour Parties, the possible breakup of the “United” Kingdom and turmoil on financial markets. These, however, are distractions from two serious issues … Continue reading
Posted in Economy, International Affairs, Politics
Tagged Brexit, economic isolation, economic liberalisation, Ian McAuley, inequality
1 Comment
MICHAEL KEATING. Brexit – What does it mean?
To the evident surprise of most of the pundits the UK has voted decisively to leave the European Union (EU). The question now is what follows next?
Posted in International Affairs, Politics
Tagged austerity in EU, Brexit, EU extension, growing inequality, Michael Keating, migration within EU
Comments Off on MICHAEL KEATING. Brexit – What does it mean?
KAITLIN WALSH. Don’t trust anyone over 30. The division that transcends race, gender and religion – and why a #SSM plebiscite could become our #Brexit
The increasing vitriol between the Boomers and (mostly) Gen Y has singed more than a few nose hairs in recent years. You’d be well advised to approach any discussion between active combatants with full hazmat gear. And now the … Continue reading
Posted in Media, Politics
Tagged Brexit, generational divide and Brexit, Kaitlin Walsh, marriage equality plebiscite
2 Comments
MARTIN WOLF. Brexit is probably the most disastrous single event in British history since WWII.
In the Financial Times, Martin Wolf says that the fearmongering and outright lies of Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Nigel Farage, The Sun and the Daily Mail have won.
Posted in International Affairs, Media, Politics
Tagged Brexit, Financial Times, Martin Wolf
Comments Off on MARTIN WOLF. Brexit is probably the most disastrous single event in British history since WWII.
JOHN MENADUE. Brexit and a failure of leadership – a sad, sad day.
There are lessons for many, including Australia, in Brexit and in the demise of David Cameron. That demise resulted from a failure of leadership. He pandered to the extremist Eurosceptic in his party. Instead of dismissing them and telling … Continue reading
Posted in International Affairs, Politics
Tagged Brexit, David Cameron, John Menadue, Malcolm Turnbull, Marine Le Pen, Nigel Farage
1 Comment
SIMON SCHAMA. Brexit vote a choice between the past and the future.
In this article from the Financial Times, Simon Schama (BBC’s ‘A History of Britain’) provides an historical and relevant background as to why the UK should remain as part of Europe. He highlights the narrow mindedness and divisiveness of those … Continue reading
Posted in International Affairs, Media, Politics, Refugees, Immigration
Tagged AFR, Brexit, Financial Times, Jo Cox, Simon Schama
Comments Off on SIMON SCHAMA. Brexit vote a choice between the past and the future.
Brexit and possible consequences.
In the London Review of Books, Ferdinand Mount, describes the gaggle of opponents of the EU and the possible consequences if the UK votes to brexit (exit from the EU). He highlights some of the risks: a risk of recession … Continue reading
Posted in Economy, International Affairs, Politics
Tagged Brexit, Ferdinand Mount, London Review of Books
Comments Off on Brexit and possible consequences.
Duncan MacLaren. Does Brexit mean a second independence referendum for Scotland?
The algebra goes something like this: EU ref: Brexit – Scotland = indyref2? In other words, if England overwhelmingly votes to leave the European Union while Scotland votes to remain in and the overall result from England, Northern Ireland and … Continue reading
Posted in Defence/Security, International Affairs, Politics
Tagged Boris Johnston, break-up of UK, Brexit, David Cameron, Duncan MacLaren, referendum for Scotland, Scottish National Party
Comments Off on Duncan MacLaren. Does Brexit mean a second independence referendum for Scotland?