A new law allows Australia to block entire groups of visa holders from entering the country – a sharp break from past practice with major consequences for asylum policy.
Category: Politics
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Pope Leo reframes the moral language of war
Leo may help break a trend that has dominated American Catholicism – less religion as national glue, more faith as a critique of power. (more…)
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Orbán out – Hungary votes to end 16 years of rule
Hungary’s election has ended Viktor Orbán’s 16-year grip on power, with voters backing a conservative challenger promising a return to democratic norms and a closer European path.
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A costly rewrite of R&D – with no price tag
Proposed changes to Australia’s R&D tax system would expand eligibility beyond genuine research, concentrate benefits among a narrow group of firms, and proceed without clear costings.
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When the world changes, economic policy must too
A new geopolitical shock is exposing the limits of economic orthodoxy, echoing past crises where sticking to old rules only deepened the damage. (more…)
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Closing Afghanistan’s embassy serves no Australian interest
Australia’s decision to close the Afghan Embassy risks aiding the Taliban, undermining diaspora communities, and weakening future diplomatic options in a volatile region.
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Job-ready Graduates has failed – a first step to fixing it is on the table
The Job-ready Graduates reforms have increased student debt, failed to shift enrolments, and entrenched inequality across Australia’s higher education system. (more…)
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Why “drill baby drill” won’t solve Australia’s energy problem
Calls to expand fossil fuel production ignore Australia’s real energy vulnerabilities, while electrification and renewables offer a clearer path to lower costs and greater security.
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The world acts for oil – but not for human life
Global powers moved quickly to end a war that threatened energy supplies, while years of mass civilian suffering in Gaza has failed to prompt meaningful action. (more…)
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Punishment alone won’t fix youth crime
Tougher penalties dominate the politics of youth crime, but without addressing how young people – particularly First Nations children – learn, relate and develop, punishment risks deepening the very problems it seeks to solve.
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Overpopulation is pushing Earth past breaking point
Scientific evidence shows humanity has exceeded Earth’s long-term carrying capacity, placing growing strain on the systems that sustain life and increasing the risk of global instability. (more…)
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China’s response to war is strategy, not opportunism
As war disrupts the Middle East, China is focused on stability and long-term strategy – but much of the commentary in Australia continues to misread its intentions.
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Robodebt for the environment? AI will not fix Australia’s broken environmental laws
Using artificial intelligence to speed up environmental approvals risks entrenching flawed laws, poor data and declining biodiversity outcomes.
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Environment: Nature is in decline – and we are funding the damage
Glaciers are disappearing, biodiversity loss is accelerating, and governments continue to spend far more destroying nature than protecting it. (more…)
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Pentagon threatened Pope after he condemned Trump’s military attacks
Reports that US officials warned the Vatican to align with Washington highlight growing tensions between military power and moral authority as the Pope continues to speak out against war.
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Do people still care about opera? An insider raises some doubts
A new book on opera’s future raises important questions about relevance and access, but misses the deeper case for why the art form still matters.
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Identity, influence and division – Australia’s Jewish community in a time of tension
Amid rising tensions and a national inquiry into antisemitism, understanding the complexity of Australia’s Jewish community is essential to any serious conversation about social cohesion. (more…)
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Pope 1, Trump 0 – Message from the Editor
You think things can’t get any worse and then they do! (more…)
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War talks, danger for peacekeepers, and the ‘great insulation’ – Asian Media Report
Iran prefers Vance as lead negotiator, Indonesia’s Lebanon Blue Helmets ‘targeted’, developing countries seek superpower autonomy, Japanese troops join Philippines’ exercises, power centralised in Vietnam, and alarming loss of forest cover. (more…)
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Cost of living? We should be more concerned about something else
While cost-of-living pressures dominate headlines, deeper shifts are reshaping Australian politics – with Labor consolidating the centre and the Coalition struggling to respond.
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Populism grows where inequality is ignored
Populism is often dismissed or ridiculed, but its rise reflects decades of policy choices that have deepened inequality and left many Australians behind.
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Australia is giving away billions in gas profits
Australia’s failure to properly tax gas exports is costing billions in public revenue, even as other countries capture windfall profits for national benefit. (more…)
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The Farrer by-election is a test of One Nation’s rise
The Farrer by-election could reveal whether Coalition voters are shifting towards One Nation or prefer independents, with implications for future political strategy.
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Trump’s war leaves the US diminished and Iran emboldened
The war has strengthened Iran’s strategic position while weakening US alliances, credibility, and influence across the Middle East. (more…)
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The UAE alliance Australia won’t question
Australia’s deep military and political ties with the UAE expose it to risk while aligning with an autocratic partner. (more…)
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US disapproval of Israel hits an all-time high
Public support for Israel in the United States has dropped sharply, with younger voters driving a significant shift that could reshape future politics.
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Jewish voices challenge the war on Iran
Dissenting Jewish organisations are challenging support for war on Iran, reframing Jewish identity around justice, international law and the equal value of all lives.
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Indonesia’s democracy faces a quiet return of military power
Signs of renewed military involvement in civilian life are raising concerns that Indonesia may be drifting back towards the authoritarian practices of its past. (more…)
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The language of war is built on lies
The language used by Trump and Netanyahu turns violence into virtue, framing war as moral, necessary and inevitable while masking its human cost. (more…)
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A threat to wipe out a civilisation demands resistance
President Trump’s threat to destroy an entire civilisation marks a profound moral breach and demands immediate public repudiation and resistance.
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