Whilst some incremental progress has been made following the 2022 change of Federal government, evidence confirms that both main political parties lack the imagination, courage and leadership to adequately address climate change. For decades, climate change policy in Australia has been a political football refereed by vested interests, notably the fossil fuel industry and other Continue reading »
Government
One side seems to prefer dealing with former leaders rather than current ones. The other likes to talk, while piling on coercive measures. If what passes for diplomacy between China and the United States is any indication these days, we are all in real trouble. One side seems to prefer dealing with former leaders rather Continue reading »
One of the emerging political challenges of the 2020’s in Australia is the contest for the votes of renters. This contest has changed the political complexion of previously safe conservative seats and led to a major policy confrontation between the Greens and the Labor Party. Some interesting research has emerged which suggests, contrary to the Continue reading »
An attempt by a branch of the ACT Labor Party to protest the tripartite AUKUS security pact was blocked over the weekend in what members believe is a consequence of Anthony Albanese wanting to quell dissent on the issue, writes Phillip Coorey in the Australian Financial Review Amid significant unrest among rank-and-file members – primarily Continue reading »
The commissioning of the new USS Canberra in Sydney amid accompanying fanfare and blanket Australian media coverage provided ample testimony to the extent that we are increasingly being taken for granted by the US civil and military leadership. The Canberra is one of the final run of 35 Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) built for the Continue reading »
Australia’s first wellbeing framework, announced by the Treasurer under the Measuring What Matters banner, is important and can play a vital part in setting national direction and navigating significant challenges for Australia in the years to come. The framework uses larger and more diverse data to bring depth and resolution to the picture drawn by Continue reading »
Integrity, accountability and stewardship are, post the Robodebt royal commission, to be the watchwords of the hour. The cynic will note that the agencies to oversee changing the culture are those which did most, in word and deed, to create, foster and promote the old culture, and that not one of them has publicly examined Continue reading »
Since the Lowy Institute’s first Being Chinese in Australia: Public Opinion in Chinese Communities survey was published in 2021, Australia’s relations with China have undergone significant upheaval. The COVID-19 pandemic, the rupture in Australia–China relations, the election of a Labor government and the turbulence in both countries accompanying their re-openings after their COVID-19 lockdowns has placed Chinese Continue reading »
Peter Dutton incessantly declaims about the cost of living crisis, blaming the government. But what would he do instead? First, we need to remember that the Albanese Government inherited the cost of living crisis. Indeed, like Dutton does now, Labor similarly complained about the cost of living crisis when they were in Opposition. The difference Continue reading »