It is a big week for ‘but’ and ‘however’, delivered with some vehemence in responses to the Federal Budget. It is also a timely reminder that simple things matter, like our tone of voice in private and public conversations. We may all be happier and more grateful if we were carefully attentive to how we Continue reading »
politics
No jurisdiction has managed a flawless COVID response, says Richard Cullen. But China, despite its imperfect COVID management experience, did better than any other major jurisdiction and, in fact, displayed many examples of early-best-practice unseen elsewhere. Exasperatingly, the West found, yet again, that it there is much it can learn from China – and then, Continue reading »
Despite a year of grace given to the Prime Minister for ‘quiet diplomacy’ to work, the release of Julian Assange from political incarceration and extradition looks as remote as ever – so it seems it’s time to get out the loudhailer once more. After nearly a decade of making Freedom of Information (FOI) applications in the Julian Continue reading »
We need a radical rethink of the way we structure a 100-year life. Stephen Duckett welcomes the shift in focus of health care policy from the extreme end of hospitalisation to making primary care a priority – improvements to Medicare, cheaper access to medications, bulk-billing incentives for GPs. These measures will help many older people, Continue reading »
The Government has announced the 2023-24 migration program will be set at 190,000 places – in headline terms a 5,000 place reduction on the 2022-23 migration program. Note the permanent migration program counts visas granted irrespective of whether the person is already in Australia or not. It is very different to net migration which counts Continue reading »
During a 27 April ceremony marking the delivery of Russian-made nuclear fuel to the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in southern Turkiye, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his support for his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the hotly-contested, upcoming 14 May presidential elections. Republished from THE CRADLE May 8, 2023. The two heads of state participated Continue reading »
After leading a government that trashed Australia’s relationship with China, Scott Morrison and Arthur Sinodinos have joined Kurt Campbell’s US influence network cashing in on war talk. [WITH AN URGENT NOTICE AT THE END FOR A CHANCE TO MOBILISE AGAINST AUKUS]. At his 15 March 2023 appearance at the National Press Club, the media challenged Continue reading »
Labor has produced a responsible Budget that balances the need to advance traditional Labor priorities while also bringing inflation down. But there remains more to do. As was telegraphed weeks in advance, this Budget had two primary objectives. First, to help bring down inflation. Second, the Government wanted to provide support for living standards, targeted Continue reading »
In January, the Finance Secretary Paul Chan went to Davos as part of an effort to encourage the world to join the government in its “embrace of a new start” for Hong Kong and to sell its numerous inherent strengths. Combined with efforts that coincided with the full opening-up of Hong Kong and recent visits Continue reading »