Opinions
OPINION
My advice? There's no such thing as the 'centre right'
Leaving aside the fact that it was John Howard who buried so many of the landmines blowing up the Modern Liberals' backyard, he was right about a few things, including his observation that ‘politics is governed by the iron law of arithmetic’. So, let’s count some votes.
OPINION
Clowns to the left of us, jokers on the right – and voters stuck in the middle
While the Coalition’s demise is great spectator sport for political-watchers, it does nothing to engender faith in democracy.
OPINION
Australia’s friendship with Timor-Leste has always come second to its hunger for oil and gas
Australia is entering a “New Partnership for a New Era” with Timor-Leste. It should not be a “New Era” for fossil fuels.
OPINION
Australia’s environment laws are being rewritten, and the government is already backsliding
The draft National Environmental Standards put up for public comment over summer are vague, discretionary, and offset-heavy.
OPINION
How will Australia’s social media ban impact students this school year?
Students are navigating their first school year under Australia’s new social media ban, but the impacts of the ban may be unevenly felt.
OPINION
Coalition shambles can trace its genesis to precisely one spot
The kingdom of Queensland has produced little emperors with no clothes, sure of their power within their branch and electorate.
OPINION
International cooperation on firefighting shows the best of the Australia-US alliance
ANZUS is focused on the security of the state, but it can and should be about the welfare of the people.
OPINION
Albo’s Odyssey (and the politics of having your hands tied)
When politicians claim to be constrained, it is too often an excuse to escape responsibility for an unconscionable decision.
OPINION
When alliances fail: What’s next?
NATO is in its death throes, with US President Donald Trump smashing the trust that underpins it. But while NATO members have the ability to go their own way, things are not so clear-cut for ANZUS
OPINION
Beware the new ‘normal’, it might be about to bite us
Anyone interested in politics would have heard the paraphrased Plato quote at some point – “one of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors”.
