Opinions

Bill Browne

Politics is a dirty word. Politicians are all as bad as each other. Power corrupts. Cynicism towards politics is as old as politics itself. But I am increasingly concerned about the form of political cynicism that comes disguised as idealism: that politics is dirty, corrupting, and ineffective, but it can be perfected with “independent” and, apparently, unbiased processes.

Louise Morris

There is a bad habit in Australian politics: profits are privatised, risks are socialised, and taxpayers are left holding the bill. Tasmania's native forest logging sector has been a repeat offender and appears to refuse to change course.

Isabelle Reinecke

The NZ Government just announced plans to slash citizens’ ability to bring climate lawsuits. We could be headed down the same path.

Shannon Bosch

In a video posted by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Wednesday night, detained activists from dozens of countries are shown kneeling on the ground with their foreheads on the floor and hands zip-tied behind their backs.

Noah Schultz-Byard

When things move quickly in politics, the less nimble players can find themselves exposed. Those who react slowly to the changing reality of energy politics in Australia are likely to face consequences.

Bruce Lindsay

Last week’s Budget gives some insight into how the federal government intends to regulate logging of native forests going forward, setting aside millions in public funds to “progress a landscape-scale approval pathway for jurisdictions with RFAs”. This signals the government is planning for native forest logging to continue.

Amy Remeikis

There is a running theme among Anthony Albanese’s missteps. His latest, appearing in an interview on Hobart radio to dismiss calls for a royal commission into femicide and violence against women follows the pattern – the Prime Minister gets frustrated when the public’s agenda is broader than his own.

Paul Keating

Before I began the major reform of the tax system, as Treasurer in 1985, capital profits in this country were completely untaxed. The takeover merchants were taking over industrial companies, closing down the businesses, selling off assets, taking the profits free of any taxation.