While there are some – such as Major General Melick – concerned about not depicting warriors in the Frontier Wars, because they didn’t wear a uniform, in the Australian War Memorial, it is worth remembering how appalling the treatment of Indigenous veterans who did wear ‘the uniform’ over the last century or so were treated. (more…)
Noel Turnbull
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Greg Melick, the AWM and Frontier Wars
Major General Greg Melick, a member of the Australian War Memorial Council, would be in a very interesting position in any public company committed to best practice corporate governance principles. (more…)
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Our greatest blunders
Ten years ago Anthony King and Ivor Crewe published their book – The Blunders of Our Governments. (more…)
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If only it was happening in Australia
The French Government’s Research Minister, Silvie Retailleau, has announced a plan to shake up the country’s scientific research including investing an extra Euro 26 billion (equivalent to A$42.5 billion.) (more…)
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World’s biggest democracy?
What would Australians, and much of the world, say if the Albanese Government arrested Peter Dutton and locked him up? (more…)
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Has Dominion spelt the end of Murdoch influence in Australia?
The alternative universe occupied by the Murdoch media and its consumers is facing a very expensive and damaging confrontation with reality. But how and whether this affect the Australian operations are another question. (more…)
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There is an irony in the Voice debate
There is a profound irony in the current Voice debate – could Dutton be one of the Yes campaigns significant vote winners? (more…)
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Aston insights into Liberal world view
Perhaps the most significant thing about the Aston by-election was the comment on the result by Peter Dutton – a comment which provides a profound insight into Liberal thinking and why the Liberal Party is in trouble. (more…)
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Rupert Murdoch has a wicked problem
Rupert Murdoch has a wicked problem. Many of the politicians who bent, or even grovelled, when his News media outlets blew on them are no longer scared. On the other hand News – particularly Fox – is showing signs that it is scared of its own audiences. (more…)
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Guardian Essential Poll: AUKUS support collapses, 3-in-4 oppose
Reflecting the diminishing public support for the AUKUS deal, a new Guardian Essential Poll has found that only one quarter of Australians support paying the $368bn price tag to acquire nuclear submarines. For decades Australians were gung ho about going to war – almost any war. Today – despite the best efforts of the Nine Media (Peter Hartcher in particular) and other media – they are now far more hesitant. (more…)
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International Best Practice? Australia could do better
A couple of decades ago the phrase international best practice seemed to be on the lips of just about every business leader, business and economics journalists and the odd politician. (more…)
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Is Rupert running out of political clout and financial luck?
Rupert Murdoch may be running out of political clout and financial luck. (more…)
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John Pesutto – What are his chances?
Election night TV coverages blur into one big indigestible mass as the years go by. Yet every now and again a few stand out. (more…)
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Murdoch media problems
The good news for the Murdoch media is that it’s not the most distrusted brand in Australia – despite the efforts of its journalists. (more…)
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Why the Dutton Voice approach won’t work
Opinion polls suggest Peter Dutton and his media accomplices – both Murdoch and the Nine Newspapers – are having some initial success in confusing The Voice issue. (more…)
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Nothing agitates the ‘Anglosphere’ more than young women in power
There is nothing which agitates much of the ‘Anglosphere’ media more than a young attractive woman in power. The latest example of the phenomenon is the treatment of 37-year-old Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin. (more…)
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Nationals and the Voice: How to derail policy you oppose but the public doesn’t?
One of the most difficult tasks facing politicians – particularly conservative ones – is how to derail a policy which is popular and principled but which you oppose. (more…)
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55% of Teal voters were Labor and Green supporters
While we worry about social media misinformation we overlook that one of the main sources of misinformation about politics is mainstream media. (more…)
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How the UK is developing the characteristics of a failed society
A new book about Birmingham and its role in shaping modern Britain illuminates how the UK moved from the world’s first industrialised nation to financialisation and deindustrialisation to many of the characteristics of a failed society. (more…)
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Roy Morgan survey: Who is the most distrusted media brand?
The latest Roy Morgan Trust and Distrust survey has listed the most distrusted media brands in Australia. Which brand came out on top? (more…)
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Classrooms of hope and inspiration: Why is Sky News so angry about them?
The usual suspects in their regular appearances on Sky News After Dark or on the hustings are horrified by what they think is going on in our schools. Yet seeing what is actually going on is heartening for the rest of us. (more…)
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Climate change risk second only to nuclear war
Could anthropogenic climate change result in worldwide societal collapse or even human extinction? (more…)
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Why are the Greens opposing the Voice?
As the Greens flirt with a serious loss of electoral support over its policy on the Voice to Parliament, the puzzling question is why they are doing it. (more…)
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What is it with pollies, tanks and defence waste?
What is with politicians and tanks and other armoured vehicles? (more…)
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The Murdoch media is in a class of its own with news replaced by propaganda
In declining order of trust: The Age, SMH, Guardian online, News com.au, Sky News, Herald Sun and Daily Telegraph come below the 50% mark with Sky News boasting the highest don’t trust rating. Would someone please remind us who owns the four at the bottom of the trust scale? (more…)
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Rupert falls out with Jerry and Donald
In the space of a few weeks Rupert Murdoch has dumped both Jerry Hall and Donald Trump. One dumped for threatening to cost him money and one because he can no longer deliver Rupert’s other love-power. (more…)
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The devil might not have the best tunes
The ongoing success of Republicans and US right wingers might be characterised as being due to the devil having the best tunes. (more…)
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The US, institutions and political violence
It is no longer completely ridiculous to ponder whether the US might be heading towards a new low level civil war. (more…)
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Hubristic Greens
There is one area in which the Greens are out in a class of their own – hubris. (more…)
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If only…..Australia
It would be easy to develop a history of recent Australian history around the theme of if only. (more…)