We have a major problem with the damage that Rupert Murdoch has done to newspapers in Australia, and any self-respecting government should take steps to correct that as soon as possible. (more…)
John Menadue
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Caste divisions among Indian diaspora remain in Australia
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Pearls and Irritations – Editor Position
Our current editor Dr. Aran Martin is leaving us at the end of January. He has given excellent service to Pearls and Irritations. We are seeking a new editor and share the role description below. (more…)
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Google faces verdicts from anti-trust trials as Trump term approaches
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The United States empire is almost always at war
The US empire is addicted to a belief in its exceptionalism, grounded in aggression both at home and abroad, and finding it hard to admit mistakes. (more…)
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Vale Susie Menadue
Life is changed, not ended. Diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease over two years ago, Susie Menadue died peacefully, surrounded by her family on October 24, aged 79. (more…)
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King Charles of Australia to revisit the scene of his earlier crime
With the active support of Prince Charles, now King Charles, John Kerr planned the dismissal of Gough Whitlam in 1975. (more…)
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Modi’s party suffers another setback in Kashmir polls
It is unlikely that even the biggest supporter of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected his BJP party to win the recent election in the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) after the reverse Modi suffered in the national elections held earlier in the year. (more…)
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The context for October 7 is wilfully and deliberately ignored
October 7 did not occur in a vacuum. It was the result of decades long Israeli occupation, never ending violence and oppression of Palestinians. The pressure cooker exploded! (more…)
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Will the QUAD go the same way as SEATO – another lame duck?
Almost the first thing Anthony Albanese did after becoming PM was to jump on a plane for a QUAD meeting in Tokyo. He was accompanied by Andrew Shearer, the head of the Office of National Intelligence. Ever since, Albanese has been in the grip of our intelligence services which have been effectively colonised by the CIA and other US agencies. Diplomacy has been put in the freezer. (more…)
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What our donors have told us
I have such admiration for Pearls and Irritations. Thanks so much. Unfortunately my donation can’t match my admiration. Anonymous (more…)
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Australian film-maker refused entry into India
Australian film-maker David Bradbury has been refused entry into India, after flying into Chennai from Bangkok on 10 September with his two children, aiming to take a holiday. (more…)
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Nelson Mandela warned us that ‘the US has committed unspeakable atrocities in the world’
That warning was 20 years ago, but in the years since, the US has continued in its violent and aggressive ways, cloaking its violence and aggression with bromides about a rules-based international order and defence of democratic values. If only that was true. (more…)
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A minority Labor Government is likely after the next election
Public polls and what I have heard of private polls suggest we may be facing a very new political ball game after the next federal election. (more…)
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We value our readers and seek your point of view
Thank you for the important work you are doing in providing an informed, alternative analysis on news that is independent from mainstream media.
Donor, August 2024 (more…) -
Tackling the issues swept aside by mainstream media
Pearls and Irritations is one of the few media with an independent voice left in Australia that is willing to focus on issues of substance. May their voice grow stronger!
Donor, August 2024 (more…)
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America is the most violent, aggressive country in the world
Of the international intelligence information that comes to Australian agencies from the Five Eyes, 90% comes from the CIA and related US intelligence agencies. So in effect we have the colonisation of our intelligence agencies These agencies dominate the advice to Ministers writes John Menadue. (more…)
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A fiercely independent, independent media
“I really value P & I, for its individualistic and thoughtful commentary at this difficult time – and its provision of a platform to experienced commentators with no connection to business or political bias. I do not subscribe or buy mainstream newspapers”. (more…)
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The Americanisation of our public policy, media and national interest
John Menadue AO eminent former public servant, ambassador and businessman – now independent founder, publisher and Editor in Chief of the online public policy journal ‘Pearls and Irritations‘ – offers an in depth conversation about how Australian public policy is making us more vulnerable in dangerous geopolitical times, by compromising pursuit of our sovereign interests, power and diplomatic capacity in favour of over reliance on our alliance with America and its interests. (more…)
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Can you help Pearls and Irritations raise the bar in Australia’s media landscape?
As an independent media, Pearls and Irritations is only supported by the generous donations and monthly subscriptions from our readers. Can you help? (more…)
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New Governance arrangements for Pearls and Irritations
From a private to a public company and determined to fill the void left by our monopoly and Washington focussed media. (more…)
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News Corp – How a rogue organisation operates. A repost from 27 October 2017-slightly updated.
Rupert Murdoch demands loyalty from his followers, not competence.
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Twenty thousand articles in Pearls and Irritations and counting
It was quite a surprise when I noticed last week that we had posted so many articles over 13 years. (more…)
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Australian Leadership to end the war on Gaza: open letter to the Prime Minister
We write to express our extreme concern that Senator Payman has resigned from the Labor Government. (more…)
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A win is a win, but clear lessons on Gaza from the UK election
The British Labour Party (BLP) won 32% of the vote but with First Past the Post voting it won 62% of the seats. That was the biggest gap on record between votes won and the number of seats. (more…)
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The Age hits a low pursuing discredited narratives about Oct. 7 attack
Melbourne tabloid The Age has done its already sagging reputation no favours by running, as an exclusive, an article that claims to detail what it calls the “denial and disinformation facing October 7 survivors” – Israelis who were attacked by Hamas – with the centrepiece of the article being an interview with an Israeli reservist – who was interviewed twice in 2023. (more…)
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Summing up
The world and its people are facing serious local and global challenges. Climate change, economic instability, limits to free speech, threats to independent media reporting, and increasing social inequality all signal the breakdown of democratic systems across the world. Our political institutions and leaders are failing us with increasingly conservative policies that favour big business. (more…)
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Australia’s obsession with the US is getting out of hand
Australia’s obsession with every little political twist or swing in the US seems to grow with each day, with the latest event to gain saturation coverage being the first presidential debate of the current American political cycle. (more…)
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Big media firms trying to get government to cover Facebook money
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Private hospitals seeking more government subsidies
Instead of churning more taxpayer money through Private Health Insurance funds to private hospitals, the Commonwealth Government should establish a Hospital Benefits Fund (HBF), similar to the Medical Benefits Fund (MBF), with benefits going directly to patients for payments to a hospital of their choice. (more…)