As extreme weather intensifies and disinformation spreads, the government’s silence on climate change is undermining public understanding and action.
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Category: Politics
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Silence facilitates climate disinformation, and the government is complicit
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Australia’s superannuation pivot to America: prudent strategy or moment for pause?
Australian super funds are rapidly increasing investment in US tech and AI, concentrating risk and tying retirement savings to systems linked to modern warfare. (more…)
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Jewish Australians speak – and contradict the government’s antisemitism report
A new grassroots study of Jewish Australians challenges the government-backed antisemitism report, exposing contradictions in its methodology and conclusions.
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Crippling or buttressing Iran’s nuclear ambition – Part 2
In a new three-part series, Ramesh Thakur examines dimensions of the Iran war. In part two, he analyses how the US-Israeli war may affect Iran’s nuclear capacity and ambitions.
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The lies that fuel war
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.
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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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Albanese risks losing the voters who put him there
From foreign policy to domestic reform, Labor risks alienating key supporters and wasting a moment of political opportunity in a volatile landscape.
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The WTO is dead? Long live the WTO
Trade ministers gathering to reform the WTO risk starting from the wrong premise. The WTO’s dispute system is impaired, but its core functions remain active. Reform should build on what still works – not start from a false premise of collapse.
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The sinking of IRIS Dena: will hubris meet nemesis? Part 1
In a new three-part series, Ramesh Thakur examines the dimensions of the Iran war. In part one, he analyses the legal issues surrounding the sinking of the Iranian warship Dena. (more…)
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Randa Abdel-Fattah wins Jerusalem Peace Prize
Randa Abdel-Fattah has been awarded the 2026 Jerusalem Peace Prize, recognising her advocacy for Palestinian rights amid mounting political and institutional pressure.
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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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Australia’s dangerous blind spot in Southeast Asia
In this excerpt from his Quarterly Essay, Michael Wesley argues Australia has misread a changing world – clinging to old assumptions, over-relying on the US alliance, and overlooking the growing strategic importance of Southeast Asia.
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The meltdown of the Trump presidency: his oath was a betrayal – part two
The presidential oath is a binding constitutional obligation – but Trump’s actions raise fundamental questions about what happens when that obligation is ignored.
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Israel is caught in a permanent state of war
An interview with Israeli academic and activist Idan Landau, who says “as long as the US and Europe continue to insulate Israel from the moral consequences of its policies,” things are likely to go from bad to worse. (more…)
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As the US destabilises, Asia Pacific steps up
As the United States shifts from stabiliser to disruptor, regional institutions in the Asia Pacific are becoming more central to maintaining order in an increasingly uncertain world.
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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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Australia’s six pathways to the war with Iran: Part 2
From military bases to diplomacy and defence manufacturing, Australia’s long-standing ties are drawing it further into the US–Israel war on Iran. (more…)
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The dangerous stories driving war in Iran
From Trump to Putin, the narratives leaders tell themselves shape global conflict – and the war in Iran shows the consequences when belief overrides reality. (more…)
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The wisdom of David Solomon (plus priceless insights, grace and humour)
David Solomon’s ‘Footnotes’ reveals the stories behind Australian politics and journalism – including the moments that never made it into print.
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Environment: If people like Grace Tame can’t be ‘difficult’, who can? – speaking up as ecosystems reach breaking point
Human demand is pushing ecosystems beyond safe limits – while weak policy, unrealistic emissions targets and the silencing of dissenting voices make the crisis harder to confront. (more…)
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As Israel invades again, Lebanon faces more turmoil and possible civil war
Renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah risks spiralling into a broader conflict, with scenarios ranging from limited operations to a prolonged war or full-scale regional escalation.
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Five books to help you understand Iran – recommended by experts
In a time of war, five expert-recommended books offer deeper insight into Iran’s history, politics and people – beyond simplified narratives. (more…)
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Anthony Mason’s legacy – and the shadow of the dismissal
Anthony Mason reshaped Australian law as Chief Justice – but his concealed role in the Whitlam dismissal casts a lasting shadow over that legacy. (more…)
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Keeping your chin up – Message from the Editor
Around our dinner table we volunteer our ‘best bits’ for the day. My eldest daughter started it with her boys, and it has now become an evening ritual for us all. It forces you to articulate the good bits of the day, and to listen to what have been the good bits for others. So I thought I would start doing that with readers as well. Each week, as I filter through the hundreds of articles, podcasts, and Instagram posts that inform our coverage, I will pick a best bit. If you are reading this on social media I would love to hear your best bits. (more…)
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‘Cracks are beginning to show’: Trump voters want quick end to Iran War
A new poll shows strong backing among Trump voters for ending the Iran war, with rising concern over costs, casualties and escalation. (more…)
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I am 25 – wars shaped my consciousness and memory
From childhood to adulthood, Refaat Ibrahim recounts a life marked by repeated war, displacement and loss – a personal testimony of a generation growing up under siege in Gaza. (more…)
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The meltdown of the Trump presidency: his oath was a betrayal – part one
A Supreme Court ruling, an unauthorised war and open defiance of legal limits point to a presidency no longer constrained by institutions – but defined by them being ignored. (more…)
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The anti-Zionism of Sir Isaac Isaacs
Sir Isaac Isaacs warned in the 1940s that Zionism risked deep and lasting conflict. Decades on, those arguments about justice and prudence remain sharply relevant. (more…)
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Australia’s six pathways to the war with Iran: Part 1
Australia is already deeply involved in the US–Israel war on Iran, through intelligence, military deployments and long-standing strategic commitments. (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…)