politics

Created
Sat, 28/09/2024 - 04:53
One of the most graphic depictions of the environmental costs of war was when 700 of Kuwait’s oil fields were set ablaze during the first Gulf War, leaking an astounding 11 million barrels of crude oil into the Persian Gulf and creating a smoke plume stretching 800 kilometres. Nearly 300 oil lakes developed inland on Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 28/09/2024 - 04:57
China is in the middle of its third major deflationary episode in the past three decades. The country’s global footprint is now so large that uncertainty over the timing of its exit from the current episode is one of the most important questions in the global economy today. Prior episodes offer some useful guidance on Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 28/09/2024 - 04:59
Richard Marles and his mate, the US defence secretary, are beginning to wilt under the weight of sustained comment in Australia critical of the AUKUS arrangement. Marles, unable to sustain a cogent argument himself, has his US friend propping him up in London to throw a 10,000-mile punch at me – and as usual, failing Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 28/09/2024 - 04:55
Coalition Senator Sarah Henderson brought a bill entitled “Commission of Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities Bill 2024 (No. 2)” alleging antisemitism on university campuses. This attempt at political interference must be rebuffed in favour of the more broad approach to antiracism. Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 28/09/2024 - 04:58
A letter sent by the author to Mark Scott, vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney, after he apologised during a Senate hearing for not cracking down on alleged anti-Semitism during protests on the university campus in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Dear Mark, I do not underestimate the pressure you would have been under regarding Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 28/09/2024 - 04:50
The largely unrecognised risk to Australia that our powerful ally will strategically collapse through internal political stresses is greater than the much discussed threat of war with China. Allan Behm, Director, International & Security Affairs Program, The Australia Institute, in conversation with Michael Lester about his new book The Odd Couple: The Australia-America relationship (Upswell Continue reading »
Created
Sat, 28/09/2024 - 04:58
New revelations have exposed the continued abuse of vulnerable Australians by privatised employment services under Workforce Australia. Documents obtained under Freedom of Information by the Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union confirm that several providers are threatening job-seekers with payment suspensions to coerce them into handing over payslips. This is a clear breach of the guidelines, but Continue reading »