Australian Opposition leader (for now), Donald Dutton, has told confidantes that the secret to winning the next election is his new found mantra. That it is not a lie, if Sky News or the ABC believes it. ”Dutt’s has been... Read More ›
politics
Recently the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, a thinktank in Washington, DC, did a survey asking U.S. and Taiwan Experts if China might use nuclear weapons in a conflict with or over Taiwan. The results were astonishing to most who read the study. Almost half of U.S. experts reported they thought China would. Only Continue reading »
China is threatening to the West because it provides an example of how a poor and technologically backward country can effectively defy Western domination of the mind and body. Since the late 15th Century until the mid-20th Century the West, through its technological and hence military superiority has been able to project to the rest Continue reading »
Respecting international law and ending the system of apartheid that Israel imposes on the Palestinians is the only way to achieve lasting peace, human security and regional stability—for no one can be safe until everybody is safe. GENEVA (15 February 2024) – The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories Continue reading »
The Arab response to the unfolding Palestinian catastrophe has been underwhelming. Palestinian intellectuals, journalists, activists, and the wider Palestinian public have had no illusions as to what to expect of the US political and military elites. They did, however, expect more of Arab governments. The hope was that, with Israel’s barbaric conduct in Gaza glaringly Continue reading »
Documents obtained under FOI applications have revealed a worrying side to official Australian efforts regarding WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.In September 2021, DFAT became aware of media reports detailing CIA planning to murder Assange in London. The plot revealed to journalists working for Yahoo News, who spoke to over 30 intelligence sources, involved consideration by CIA of Continue reading »
Well, if the cat is the referral of public servants by the Robodebt Royal Commission for code of conduct investigations now being dealt by the Public Service Commission, the answer is a long time. When the referrals were made the Commission brought in a couple of senior former officials, presumably as consultants, and the hope Continue reading »
Why did well over half the 200-plus million Indonesian registered electors choose disgraced general Prabowo Subianto as their next President? Duncan Graham has some answers. Authority – and fun. The former cashiered general banned from the US and Australia in a previous life has on early counts won almost 60 per cent of the popular Continue reading »
Sometimes one event encapsulates the zeitgeist. Alexei Navalny’s death from what are almost certainly unnatural causes is one such moment. One of the most heroic figures of our time appears to have been eliminated by one of the most despicable and loathsome. The only thing that is really surprising given Vladimir Putin’s track record is Continue reading »
Bravo to Ross Garnaut and Rod Sims for their effort at the National Press Club on 14 February to overturn the whole national debate on climate, energy, productivity and tax. But the Green Industrial Revolution may not fall easily into Australia’s lap. Garnaut and Sims are right that our coal and gas exports will dwindle Continue reading »