Lobbying has been part of politics for the past two millennia, but in the past twenty years it has become an artform in persuasion and influence. At times it is scarcely possible to distinguish the elected representatives from unelected politicians. It seems now that a political career is not just election to a parliament, but involves three consecutive components: initial work as a ministerial staffer, election to a safe seat and retirement into work as a consultant or lobbyist. (more…)
Greg Bailey
-
On the tyranny of the short term
What has become very apparent in public policy over the past twenty years is the extent to which the “short-term” is given precedence over the “long-term”. Both major political parties live to win the next election, and the mainstream media joins in rapturously because it treats politics as a binary competition that is most sensationally conceptualised in the short-term. (more…)
-
Fearmongering: the media’s creation of fear in the general public
It has often been suggested that the LNP have always used an underlying fear and insecurity in the general public as a means of securing voting support on the basis that they offer better protection against external and internal threats. Typically, these threats are left vague, yet it is wholly evident that the main stream media is intent on ramping up China as an external threat and Middle East and youth crime gangs as an internal threat. Is Climate Change presented as a threat to our security? Rarely, and usually in an entirely non-systematic manner. (more…)
-
The degradation of the University
Like other large public and private sector organisations, universities have now been pervaded by the activities and influence of consultants. This represents a degradation of the social and educational role of the university as well as a determined shift towards the privatisation of knowledge. (more…)
-
The ALP Victorian state conference and AUKUS
An attempt by certain Labor affiliated left-wing unions to put a motion critical of AUKUS at the recent ALP Victorian State Conference was deferred by factional bosses even before it was put. That it was deferred tells us as much about the hierarchy ignoring the rank and file of the party as it does about the massive folly that is AUKUS. (more…)
-
“China threat” a distraction from climate change, economic inequity
Whilst much has been made of the extremely intemperate attempt by the Channel Nine newspapers to stir up fear against China, and their lauding of the AUKUS agreements and the massive amounts to be spent on nuclear submarines, little has been said about how this has been a distraction from fundamental issues the country is facing. Not the least of these is the refusal of the Labor government to implement policies that would take it away from the disastrous years of the coalition government. (more…)
-
Civilian casualties in Ukraine-5,000? In Yemen-380,000? But Western Media tells a different story!
Whilst resort to warfare must be strongly deprecated in virtually all circumstances, it is arguable that the media treatment of specific conflicts and the resulting casualties–both civilian and military–differs considerably from war to war and can easily break down into black and white categories, based on factors other than the war itself. The recourse to particular forms of categorisation tells us as much about the media itself as it does about the particular conflicts being reported upon. (more…)
-
What now for government in Australia?
Now that the ALP has formed a government, we should ask what it can practically do to restore governance in Australia and convince the Australia public of the massive task it, and the public confront, in the face of so many festering problems. This task will not be easy, but a comprehensive narrative will have to be developed and communicated, laying down unequivocally the nation’s problems and their solutions. (more…)
-
Election 2022: The journalists’ delight and the avoidance of policy
Now that the election has been called journalists-and not just those locked in the Canberra bubble–will be salivating with anticipation over what will happen over the next six weeks: all the gotcha moments, all the dirt, the denials, the photographic moments. Everything but the detailed policy statements. (more…)
-
United Australia Party is invoking freedom to win votes. So is the prime minister
‘Freedom’ has been a rallying point for those disaffected by Covid restrictions, and Clive Palmer’s UAP is trying to capitalise on it.
-
Ziggy Switkowski: the corporatisation of Australian universities and Crown Casino
After a stellar career at the pinnacle of several large corporate entities, Ziggy Switkowski seems to have fallen to Earth after resigning as chancellor of RMIT university.
-
The Covid pandemic as a force for change in Australian society and governance
The pandemic can teach us how to have a more economically and culturally equitable community.
(more…) -
Murdoch coverage of the pandemic – a dumping for Dan and a free ride for Gladys.
One of the advantages of COVID from a government and media perspective is that it has allowed other crucially important issues to be left aside or placed on the back bench until the pandemic is under control. As always a crises provide opportunities for ambitious politicians and their media supporters. (more…)
-
Scott Morrison as Governor-General
Prime Minister Scott Morrison tries to be everywhere and everything to all people, immersed in the minutiae of politics while trying to convey the impression that he stands above it. This offers a parallel with the Governor-General of Australia who must be seen to be apolitical and a symbol of both unity and stability. The present Governor-General seems to have withdrawn from the limelight, to be replaced by our marketing PM. (more…)
-
Prince Philip: royalty remains central to Australian identity
With the death of Prince Philip on Friday the reaction in Australia’s media has been overwhelming. Stories about his humorous, and sometimes offensive, statements have been repeated ad nauseum and his service to the broader community in the Commonwealth lauded. This saturation coverage reinforces how powerful the image of the monarchy and a stable Britain is in the minds of the public and the mainstream media. (more…)
-
Tunnel vision: the media’s love affair with Craig Kelly and conflict
The media’s focus on divisive figures like Craig Kelly simply excuses the equally dangerous views of his less vocal, climate change denying colleagues. It is on these politicians that the media should focus.
-
2020 and beyond. Comeback, but to what?
Scott Morrison’s government has been spruiking its life and economy saving program named Comeback on television and digital platforms. This means comeback from the unexpected changes imposed on individuals and the economy in 2020 by the COVID virus. But comeback to what? (more…)
-
COVID 19 and Victoria: responsibility in Australian politics – Part 2
The COVID epidemic has laid bare many of the stresses that have been building up in Australian society, polity and economy over the past four decades. (more…)
-
COVID 19 and the transformation of Victoria – Part 1
As Melbournians waited with bated and unbated breath for the announcement last Sunday about relief from the Stage Four lockdown, the pressure that has been increasing dramatically for the past month has eased. Will a new normal be reached?
-
Lobby Land. Influencers or influenced?
Who lobbies the lobbyists? Not the voting public, not the politicians who are part of the reception and creation of knowledge which is the raison d’être of lobbyists, consultants, public relations firms and government relations officers in the large corporations. Only a few journalists like Michael West, the Grattan Institute and journals like P & I.
-
The IPA, Tim Wilson, human rights and influence
That Tim Wilson used his Human Rights Commission email account for political purposes when he became the Human Rights Commissioner may seem trivial or “utterly irrelevant” as he calls it. Yet surely it risked compromising the independence of the Commission and represents a new form of politicization of the public service. (more…)
-
Australia and the USA as ambiguous mirror images (Part 2 of 2)
If Australian governments over the past three decades have been unrepentant in intensifying our alliance with the USA it is because many conceive us of having identical interests rather than just as having identical values? But does the identity of interests arise from a perception of identical values and historical development? (more…)
-
Australia and the USA as ambiguous mirror images (Part 1 of 2)
Australian governments still cling like a lichen to the USA in foreign policy, neoliberal values, a bi-polar view of the world (China vs. freedom) and so-call democratic values. But is Australia as close to the culture (s) of the USA as seems to be uncritically accepted and are these values really those which some believe unite us? (more…)
-
GREG BAILEY. COVID-19 and Tax Havens
Now that three governments in the EU have announced that during the COVID-19 crisis they will give no government funding to companies registered in tax havens, we wait to see if this prohibition is continued after the crisis is over. Will it be extended to countries beyond the EU, especially those in the Anglo-Celtic sphere? (more…)
-
GREG BAILEY. Covid-19 and personal liberty.
It has been many years since Australians experienced a crisis like the present one where all paradigms have been turned upside down. The social implications of the need for physical isolation are immense and the economic costs, both personal and national, are equally significant. (more…)
-
GREG BAILEY. Predictability, Society and the COVID 19 Virus
The economic stimulus must adopt a whole of society approach, focusing on those of lower income, of a kind that it has consistently refused to do. If it does this and, above all, can be seen to be doing it, then Australia may emerge out of this crisis as a better country than it was it went in. (more…)
-
GREG BAILEY. On Values, Australia Day and Community Resilience
The Age of 26/1/20 published on a single page, under the title Comment, lengthy statements by the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader, both accompanied by pictures that could be described as entirely neutral. Any illumination of either statement regarding what the future policies of either party might be was largely doomed to darkness, as motherhood statements and vagaries about resilience and Australian values were the order of the day. (more…)
-
GREG BAILEY. Climate Change Politics in Theory and Practice (3). The Liberal National Party
It is really the LNP government over the last six years that should have been making the run on climate change mitigation, but it has done nothing apart from giving handouts-Direct Action–to certain favoured recipients. Any efforts it might have made on climate change mitigation were completely derailed by Tony Abbott when he became prime minister and his extreme denialist attitude continues to the present day. (more…)
-
GREG BAILEY. Climate Change Politics in Theory and Practice (2). The ALP
Arguably the ALP since its election loss in 2013 has not been able to legislate for climate change mitigation though it was able to make some contribution when the National Energy Guarantee was proposed in 2017–only to be defeated by the right of the LNP. However, It had played a significant role in its genesis, in part because it was a COAG development involving some state Labor energy ministers. When it was in office from 2007-2013 its efforts in developing a carbon tax gave us a taste of what might have been. (more…)
-
GREG BAILEY. Climate Change Politics in Theory and Practice (1).
Given the centrality of the problem of an emerging climate catastrophe in the consciousness of many Australians now, it is timely to canvas the progress of the two main parties in conceptualizing and dealing with climate change. Not just because of what they might or might not have done in the past, but because of what their activity or inactivity portends for the future. (more…)