What started out as a trivial story barely worthy of public attention has grown into a full-blown crisis for the Sitiveni Rabuka-led government in Fiji. (more…)
Category: Policy
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Addressing our wicked problems
If there is one thing that the literature agrees on it is that wicked problems “…are particularly challenging as they transcend the borders of traditional policy domains, involve a wide variety of actors across different scale levels and resist our attempts to solve them”. (more…)
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Nuclear subs taking on water
There is every reason for Australia to jump on board the idea of having a review of its AUKUS defence policy. (more…)
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Australia’s quiet role in China-ASEAN dynamics
Southeast Asia’s strategic equilibrium is undergoing unprecedented stress tests. (more…)
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Hugh White and our post-American future
In his new Quarterly Essay, Hard New World, Hugh White delivers a devastating attack on Australia’s current defence policies. (more…)
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Australia should use its power as an independent voice to push for peace
Australia occupies a unique position in the global landscape, bridging East and West both geographically and culturally. Yet it continues to underuse its potential as an independent, peace-building voice in international affairs. (more…)
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Ministerial responsibility and cabinet solidarity: Are they misaligned?
When Tony Abbott brought Malcolm Turnbull back into his shadow cabinet as communications spokesman in 2010, the then Opposition leader mocked Turnbull by calling him the inventor of the internet. (more…)
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Chinese flotilla fallout still has some attempting a beat-up
There is little or no evidence that China poses a direct military threat to Australia. However, the Sinophobes among political ranks and the commentariat are trying to ensure that Beijing will treat Canberra as a hostile entity. (more…)
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China and the art of war
I have a love-hate relationship with China. As a university student, I was entranced by China’s history and rich culture. (more…)
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In one awful decision, Albanese has revealed his do-nothing plan
It didn’t take long for us to discover what a triumphantly re-elected Labor government would be like. (more…)
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A carbon tax and some key policy challenges
A carbon tax will obviously help reduce carbon emissions and achievement of the net zero target, but it will also help raise the revenue needed to fund essential government services and promote Australia’s economic development. (more…)
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Move to revoke Darwin port lease is a political decision
Moves to force divestiture of the port of Darwin damage Australia’s standing as a reliable investment destination and represents a triumph of foreign influence on policy. (more…)
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Pushing back with new urgency against neoliberalism
The era of unchallenged neoliberal dominance appears to be over, but it is too early to declare neoliberalism dead. (more…)
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Freer movement: Pacific priorities for Labor in its second term
Is the Labor Government going to take aid more seriously, and think more globally, in its second term? (more…)
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Beyond the sensible centre: A critical reflection on political imagination in the 21st century
The “sensible centre” is the most overpopulated address in Australian politics today. (more…)
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Why Australia should recognise Palestinian statehood
The question for the Australian Government is, how can we most constructively persuade Israel to change course? (more…)
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The Coalition splits, maybe not
If there was ever any question about the dire state of conservative politics in Australia after the Coalition’s comprehensive election rout, the self-indulgent posturing of the past week leaves no doubt. (more…)
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Whether due to indifference or disinterest, the media colludes with Gaza genocide
Clearly, the Australian media has little interest in reporting on any local reaction to the catastrophe in Gaza. (more…)
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The drought is back – we need a new way to help farmers survive tough times
Australia in 2025 is living up to Dorothy McKellar’s poetic vision of a country stricken by “drought and flooding rains”. (more…)
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Trump’s second term is taking the US back to the bad old days
“Words mean just what I say they mean”, Humpty Dumpty (more…)
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The Coalition’s climate change wars: Costs and opportunities
There should be no surprise that the Nationals’ climate change denial-infected policy preferences have led to a rupture of the Coalition. (more…)
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Labor bankrolls wealthy sportsmen, but underfunds a crisis of violence against women and children
On average, one woman is killed every nine days by a current or former partner in Australia. Twenty-four women and seven children reportedly have been killed by violence this year, with five deaths occurring since the federal election was announced. (more…)
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It’s time for Albo to lead in new directions
Anthony Albanese is coming under pressure from different sections of society to change his approach to governing and also being criticised about the lack of imagination in his approach to foreign affairs.
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David Littleproud cites nuclear energy disagreement as major factor in Coalition split
Nationals’ leader David Littleproud has singled out nuclear energy as a key reason for his party’s spectacular split from the Liberals, as both parties seek to rebuild following the Coalition’s devastating election loss. (more…)
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Australia and China can power up Southeast Asia’s green energy transition
Australia and China share key interests in Southeast Asia in the context of a global green transition and great power rivalry. (more…)
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US decays; for Australia, independence beckons
Donald Trump is not an aberration, but rather a symptom of the disease, not its cause. (more…)
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Brave new world
As Australia’s newly elected government seeks to navigate the shoals of President Donald Trump’s new world after the election on 3 May, it will behove us to think beyond our tariff concerns and AUKUS and focus on Southeast Asia. (more…)
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Incoming immigration minister faces immense challenges
Whoever is appointed immigration minister in the second Albanese Government will face immense challenges from both a policy and political perspective. (more…)
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Trump is the symptom of a deeper American malaise
The US president’s disruptive policies reveal a superpower unsettled by its waning dominance. (more…)
