When she introduced the first NDIS legislation to the House of Representatives in 2012 Prime Minister Julia Gillard said it was to replace “A system that metes out support rationed by arbitrary budget allocations, not real human needs”. It was a radical break with other forms of welfare assistance because it put the human rights Continue reading »
Government
A recent intelligence controversy in New Zealand is a telling lesson about how little influence junior parties like New Zealand and Australia have over allied intelligence operations. The issue was raised in an excellent report by New Zealand’s Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) late last month concerning foreign intelligence equipment installed from 2012-2020 inside Continue reading »
The Teals have targeted Liberal voters in wealthy electorates, so their focus has been on transparency, women’s rights and the environment. These are issues of concern to the Liberal-leaning who are unhappy with many coalition policies. I expect this to continue in the next election. However, we need to focus on the strategy to adopt Continue reading »
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to win a third consecutive term in office in general elections in which voting begins on April 19 and runs over seven days. The results will be known only on June 4, given that 960 million Indians are eligible to vote. April 26, May 7, May 13, May Continue reading »
One month ago, three Extinction Rebellion protesters led by Deana ‘Violet’ Coco blocked the Westgate Bridge to deliver a desperate plea to all Australians. ‘Climate Breakdown has Begun.’ ‘Declare a Climate Emergency!’ they urged. Despite 1.15 degrees of warming confirmed in 2022 and the drastic effects of climate change currently affecting global communities, the Federal Continue reading »
By mid-May, Budget time, the Albanese government will be a week short of two years in power. Albanese is moving into the zone where he could confidently approach the Governor-General, new or old, for an early election, perhaps as early as July, unexceptionably in October or November. I can’t see any parliamentary problem needing to Continue reading »
Boris Johnson did it, Donald Trump specialises in it, Peter Dutton is trying it. All these conservatives whose economic policies serve the special interests of the highest income earners have based, or are trying to base, their political strategy on winning the votes of working class voters, particularly working class men, and even more specifically, Continue reading »
The world today is disastrously misgoverned by a paranoid generation of ageing political leaders. There’s not a statesman among them, let alone a stateswoman. Meanwhile, the once dominant mainstream political parties are retreating into their bunkers, fearful of the exposure of corruption that has remained hidden in their ranks, terrified of malevolent media moguls, and Continue reading »
Samantha Mostyn will become the next Governor General in July, taking over from outgoing former General David Hurley. I am greatly cheered by this news, not simply because she is only the second woman to hold this office but because I believe she has the capacity to heal this nation at a time of its Continue reading »
I congratulate Samantha Mostyn on her appointment as Governor-General. Such an appointment is a great honour. Ms Mostyn has given much service to public life as she has to both community and business life. This service marked her out as a distinguished communitarian with a complex range of interests. And with those interests, experience. Accordingly, Continue reading »