The scale of children killed, wounded and orphaned in modern conflicts demands more than outrage – it requires a refusal to accept their deaths as normal.
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Category: Politics
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From Gaza to Minab – children are paying the price of war
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A culture of secrecy is taking hold in Canberra
The refusal to release the Pezzullo investigation report highlights a culture of secrecy across the public service and government.
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Unwinding the capital gains tax folly
Tax concessions on property and capital gains have driven housing inequality and distorted the market, and fixing them requires structural reform – not Budget tinkering. (more…)
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Ben Roberts‑Smith is accused of five war crime murder charges. How did we get here?
The charging of Ben Roberts-Smith marks a significant moment in Australia’s war crimes investigations, highlighting both legal obligations and the challenges of accountability. (more…)
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How to take down a US F-35 over Iran? Chinese engineer’s tutorial goes viral
Technically skilled Chinese civilians are sharing open-source military analysis online, targeting US power in Iran’s war. (more…)
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The world is drifting towards a new nuclear arms race
With arms control agreements collapsing and arsenals expanding, the risk of nuclear war – deliberate or accidental – is rising in a fragile global environment.
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When will housing completions in Australia overtake population growth?
Australia’s housing pressures reflect years of mismatched policy – with falling supply colliding with surging migration and labour market shocks.
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Reform requires trust – and trust requires openness
Economic reform depends on public trust – and that trust is being undermined by declining transparency, weak accountability and limited public engagement.
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Has climate policy-making gone completely off the rails?
Planning to “adapt” to 3°C of warming risks normalising catastrophic outcomes – and avoiding the urgent task of deep, immediate decarbonisation.
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Why the west keeps misreading China’s strategy
Western analysis often assumes China operates like the United States. That misreading obscures a more transactional, less entangled approach to global partnerships.
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Gaza included – Iran rejects truce and sets terms for ending war
Amid a hail of increasingly violent threats from the US regime, and confusion about negotiations, Iran has laid out its conditions for peace.
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Time and geography are on Iran’s side
A ground war in Iran would carry high costs with little strategic return. With oil flows vulnerable and escalation risks growing, the US faces limited options and no clear path to resolution. (more…)
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Fiji faces fuel import bills three times its healthcare budget
Surging oil prices are placing severe pressure on Pacific island economies heavily reliant on imported diesel. The crisis is accelerating the shift toward local renewable energy for security and stability. (more…)
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High fuel prices are accelerating interest in electric vehicles
Rising fuel prices are driving renewed interest in electric vehicles in Australia. While enthusiasm often spikes during crises, each surge leaves a lasting shift in consumer behaviour.
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The US judiciary fights back
The US system of checks and balances depends on good faith across all branches. When that breaks down, enforcement falls unevenly to courts and citizens.
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Keir Starmer’s policy on the Iran war is a recipe for catastrophe
More than two decades after Iraq, the UK is again backing a US-led war without legal basis. (more…)
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A new museum every 1.5 days: what’s driving China’s massive cultural expansion
China’s rapid expansion of museums and galleries reflects a coordinated strategy to shape national identity, manage historical narratives and project cultural influence at home and abroad.
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History’s biggest census: why India’s new population count is controversial
India’s long-delayed census is set to reshape policy, representation and public debate. The inclusion of caste data makes it a deeply political exercise.
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Takaichi revisits Japan’s prostitution debate
Japan’s prostitution laws are under review, exposing a system that penalises women while leaving demand largely untouched. The direction of reform will shape whether policy shifts toward rights or reinforces moral control. (more…)
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The game goes on: football in a time of war
As conflict escalates, FIFA insists the 2026 World Cup will proceed unchanged. The decision reflects a broader pattern – institutions continuing regardless of reality, even in the presence of war. (more…)
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Why we avoid thinking about nuclear war – and why we shouldn’t
Public denial and avoidance have dulled awareness of the nuclear threat. Annie Jacobsen’s book, Nuclear War: A Scenario confronts that reality directly, challenging readers to face what has long been ignored. (more…)
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How Norman Lindsay wrote the The Magic Pudding to critique ‘Australian values’ – inspired by Nietzsche
Often read as a celebration of national character, The Magic Pudding is better understood as a critique of Australian culture, exposing its shallowness and complacency.
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Easter’s message in a time of war
As global conflicts intensify, Easter offers a counterpoint – a call to reject violence and embrace light, mercy and transformation. (more…)
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Albanese’s big moment a clanger – Message from the Editor
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National Press Club under fire for ‘disgraceful’ invitation to Israeli envoy
The National Press Club is under fire for hosting Israel’s ambassador after cancelling other speakers and remaining largely silent on the killing of journalists in Gaza. (more…)
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UN Human Rights chief urges repeal of Israeli execution law
A new Israeli law mandating the execution of Palestinians convicted of certain offences has drawn condemnation from the UN and human rights groups.
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Why China is always misunderstood and misrepresented
By insisting on the superiority of its own standards of judgment and experience, western dominance distorts the realities of other societies. (more…)
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Does AI mean more uni students are plagiarising their work?
Long-term research suggests student plagiarism has declined over two decades, despite concerns about AI. But more than half of students still engage in it at some point.
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Allies are learning the cost of relying on the US
US alliances are exposing partner nations to conflict without giving them control over decisions. From the Gulf to Australia, the risks of strategic dependence are becoming clearer. (more…)
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School funding is undermining equality and cohesion
Australia’s school funding model is widening inequality and weakening public education. Without reform, it risks undermining social cohesion, productivity and democratic stability. (more…)