With the Farrer by-election on 9 May approaching, an independent campaign is challenging decades of Coalition dominance by turning up, listening and building support town by town. (more…)
Category: Politics
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The NDIS has transformed lives – but profit is distorting its purpose
The NDIS has enabled greater independence and inclusion, but privatisation and provider profiteering are driving up costs and distorting its purpose. (more…)
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The Iran war shows cheap missiles beat expensive defences
The Iran conflict is revealing a stark imbalance in modern warfare, where cheaper weapons are overwhelming costly defence systems and testing the limits of US military strategy. (more…)
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Why poverty still exists in China after its historic gains
China’s poverty reduction has eliminated mass destitution, but uneven development, ageing and market pressures are shaping a more complex and ongoing challenge. (more…)
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US falls to ‘historic low’ in press freedom tracker
The United States has dropped to an historic low in global press freedom rankings, with political pressure on media and industry consolidation driving the decline.
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Nuclear disarmament is stalling – and the risks are growing
As global tensions rise, nuclear-armed states are failing to meet their disarmament obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, while recent conflicts risk accelerating proliferation. (more…)
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Antisemitism inquiry interim report: we don’t need more terror laws – we need gun reform
The antisemitism inquiry interim report finds Australia already has extensive terrorism laws, while urging governments to move faster on long-delayed national gun reform.
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Why at-risk children keep falling through the net
Child protection and research systems rely on the presence of a functioning parent, leaving many of the most vulnerable children unseen and unsupported. (more…)
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Environment: Air pollution still kills almost eight million each year
Outdoor and indoor air pollution cause one in eight deaths, mainly in low income countries, climate change is bringing heatwaves and droughts together in hot-dry extremes, and the market has no incentive to save humanity.
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Loneliness is spreading – and modern life is driving it
Loneliness is rising across all age groups, driven by shifts in work, technology, culture and social life that are weakening everyday human connection.
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A $25 billion offer? Inside Trump’s push to end the Hormuz crisis
Reports from Israeli sources suggest Donald Trump is considering a multibillion-dollar payment to Iran to end the Strait of Hormuz blockade, exposing divisions within the US administration and tensions with Israel.
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The ‘little’ things that matter – Message from the Editor
There were lots of ‘big’ stories this week, in the wider world and in P&I. The assassination attempt at the White House dinner, the anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, rising debate over our place in the world in our Foreign Policy Rethink series, and constant violations of the Israel/Lebanon ceasefire. The list goes on. (more…)
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Why TikTok is being ruined by its new American owners
TikTok’s transformation under US ownership is reshaping it into a platform for censorship, AI exploitation and political influence, undermining free expression. (more…)
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Independent media probably won’t benefit from the new social media tax
A proposed levy on tech giants could deliver hundreds of millions for Australian journalism, but current settings risk directing the funds to large media companies rather than independent media. (more…)
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The King’s speech: hereditary power comes to rescue democracy
King Charles’ address to the US Congress highlighted the tension between democratic ideals and inherited power, revealing deeper strains in the western political and economic order. (more…)
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‘More destruction of science’: Trump fires every member of US National Science Board
Donald Trump has dismissed every member of the National Science Board, escalating a broader push to dismantle independent scientific advice and cut research funding across the US government. (more…)
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Rethinking Australia’s place in the world in an era of fracture
As part of our Foreign Policy Rethink series, Joseph Camilleri sets out the case for breaking with a militarised, US-aligned mindset and building a more independent, cooperative approach to security and global engagement. (more…)
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Iran is holding the line – and the US strategy is unlikely to break it
Sixty days into the conflict, Iran has held its ground in the Strait of Hormuz, while US pressure has failed to force concessions – raising the risk of escalation, oil disruption and wider global instability.
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Contracting strategy to think tanks: catering to America’s fantasies of even more war
US think tanks play a central role in shaping military strategy and future conflicts, embedding a long-standing logic of war that allies are expected to support.
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Mission creep in the Gulf shows Australia hasn’t learned from past wars
Australia has again joined a US-led conflict with little transparency or debate, raising the risk of mission creep, economic costs and another drawn-out military failure. (more…)
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Trump is a product of the media age – and a master of it
Donald Trump’s rise and rhetoric reflect a profound shift in how media shapes behaviour, power and public discourse in the digital age. (more…)
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The real war is misinformation – and it’s blocking climate action
A global disinformation campaign is undermining climate action, weakening democracy and posing a direct threat to human survival, according to new security analysis. (more…)
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Supercharging our AI Safety Institute now could make all the difference
A modest increase in funding for Australia’s AI Safety Institute could position the country as a global leader in a fast-growing industry, while managing risks and unlocking major economic gains. (more…)
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Multiculturalism should shape Australia’s foreign policy
In the latest of our Foreign Policy Rethink series, Jocelyn Chey argues that Australia’s foreign policy must better reflect its multicultural society and leverage its diversity in international engagement. (more…)
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Virtue, not values, defines who we are
In debates over repatriation, protest and politics, the real test is not what we say we value, but the virtues we are willing to uphold as a society.
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Open letter to the Prime Minister – Call for withdrawal of diplomatic relations with Israel
An open letter from Australians for Humanity urges the government to suspend diplomatic relations with Israel until it complies with international law and humanitarian standards. (more…)
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Australia risks weakening itself by overcorrecting on China
Australia’s economic relationship with China remains strong, but growing restrictions on investment and research risk undermining long-term economic and national security. (more…)
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The unpromised land down under
A little-known proposal to settle Jewish refugees in Western Australia highlights how different history might have been – and the role of racism in shaping Australia’s decisions.
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The gig economy promises freedom. The reality is different
What looks like reckless behaviour on the streets reflects a deeper system of incentives in the gig economy that rewards speed, constant availability and risk-taking. (more…)
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Wran showed how Labor can win and govern
Fifty years after Neville Wran’s rise to power, his leadership offers enduring lessons in political strategy, discipline and understanding the electorate.
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