The Albanese government’s support for the US–Israel war on Iran rests on claims about nuclear threat, humanitarian intent and non-involvement that do not withstand scrutiny.
Category: Policy
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The most liberal of Judges – Anthony Mason
Beyond his landmark judicial legacy, Anthony Mason’s later advocacy for a bill of rights and a republic remains a powerful challenge to Australia’s political conservatism.
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The Strategic Examination of R&D: can Australia’s innovation system reform itself?
A major new review sets out a coherent plan to reform Australia’s innovation system. But the real challenge is not design – it’s whether the government can afford and deliver it.
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Climate denial has deep roots in Coalition politics
From Howard to Abbott, senior Coalition figures have repeatedly dismissed climate science – favouring belief over evidence and weakening public debate.
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Power prices set to fall as renewables ease pressure on the grid
Electricity prices are set to fall across Australia’s main grid, with the regulator pointing to increased renewable energy and storage as key drivers – though global risks remain. (more…)
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Another High Court rebuke on immigration laws – and a warning on rushed policymaking
A new High Court ruling has struck down the Albanese government’s restrictions on former immigration detainees – exposing the risks of rushed, politically driven lawmaking. (more…)
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A bold plan to fix Australia’s research and innovation system – but will it deliver?
A major review calls for sweeping reform of Australia’s research and innovation system – but questions remain about delivery, priorities and impact. (more…)
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Bill Shorten’s university proposal breaks the deadlock – but design will decide its value
Bill Shorten’s proposal for a university fund tackles a long-standing funding problem – but its impact will depend on how it is designed and delivered.
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Wartime resilience already exists in multicultural Australia
As fuel and supply pressures build, multicultural Australia offers practical lessons in restraint, cooperation and resilience – but policy has yet to catch up. (more…)
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Private health insurance isn’t working – and the numbers show it
Premiums are rising far faster than official increases, coverage is narrowing and hospitals are under strain – Australia’s private health model is failing. (more…)
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ACT justice system on the brink from chronic underfunding
Legal Aid, prosecutors and the courts are all under pressure, raising concerns about fairness, workload and the effective operation of the ACT justice system. (more…)
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AI’s inclination to ‘go nuclear’
Studies show AI systems used in military scenarios tend to escalate conflicts, raising serious concerns about their role in decisions involving nuclear weapons.
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Australia’s great wealth transfer divide isn’t between generations
Australia’s so-called ‘great wealth transfer’ will not be a simple shift between generations, but a widening gap between those who inherit assets and those who do not.
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The Budget needs real tax reform, not tinkering
Australia’s tax system increasingly favours capital and older wealth while leaving younger Australians with rising debts and shrinking opportunities.
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Reclaiming the common good from neoliberalism
New thinking about the common good challenges decades of neoliberal policy and raises questions about inequality, public services and Australia’s federal system.
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Australia’s fuel security crisis needs less diesel, not more refineries
Australia’s heavy reliance on imported diesel has left the economy exposed to global shocks, highlighting the need to cut demand rather than simply increase supply.
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Freedom at last for the Robodebt Six, thanks to the NACC
New findings from the anti-corruption commission clear several figures of corruption over Robodebt, but the affair still exposes profound failures in public administration. (more…)
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Ministerial responsibilities and Robodebt
The principle of ministerial responsibility means a minister must answer for the policies and advice presented to cabinet – including the flawed Robodebt scheme.
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Five years after March 4 Justice, women are still being killed
Five years after tens of thousands of women marched across Australia demanding action on gendered violence, the country has changed its language and policies. But the most brutal statistic – women killed by current or former partners – has not declined. (more…)
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Allegra Spender reopens the tax debate – but the real divide is wealth, not generations
Australia’s tax debate often frames reform as a struggle between younger and older generations. But the real divide lies between wage earners and those who derive growing advantage from assets, wealth and capital income.
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Are soil carbon schemes really working?
New research suggests rainfall and climate variability may play a larger role in soil carbon increases than land management, raising questions about carbon credit schemes.
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Antisemitism: “It’s a trick. We always use it.”
Public debate about genocide in Gaza is increasingly dominated by claims of antisemitism. The result is a political climate where outrage at Israel’s actions is recast as prejudice.
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Australia’s multicultural success cannot be taken for granted
Australia’s multicultural project has delivered enormous social and economic benefits, but recent governments have allowed it to drift, weakening social cohesion and leadership when it needs renewed attention most. (more…)
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Robodebt report is still not the end of the road
The National Anti-Corruption Commission’s Robodebt report provides transparency and some accountability, but key findings and the lack of public detail on APS code breaches leave troubling questions unresolved.
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Ending native forest logging subsidies need not cost jobs
Claims that environmental reforms will destroy jobs in native forest logging are overstated. Labour market dynamics and the growth of plantation forestry point to a manageable transition. (more…)
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Australia, Iran and the politics of evasion
Political evasions and half-truths are shaping Australia’s response to the US-Israel attack on Iran, undermining honest debate about legality and policy.
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Escaping the tough-on-crime media trap
Decades of tough-on-crime rhetoric have narrowed political debate, but safer communities may depend on shifting the conversation toward prevention, accountability and repair.
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How to lose an election: The 2025 Liberal Party election review
The leaked review shows how chaotic campaign management and policy announcements ignoring key demographics cost the Coalition the election. (more…)
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Angus Taylor’s immigration rhetoric faces policy reality
Calls to reduce immigration by “raising standards” sound tough, but current visa settings are already far tighter than in 2022 and further cuts would come with economic costs. (more…)
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The Liberal review explains the defeat – but not the path back
The leaked review of the Liberal Party’s 2025 election defeat details campaign failures and organisational problems. What it avoids is the harder question: what policies or direction might rebuild support.