The NDIS overhaul is not just about costs and governance – it is a test of whether Labor still believes in the social guarantees that have defined its reformist tradition.
Category: Politics
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Bill the Bastard – An ANZAC legend
A personal Anzac Day reflection on service, sacrifice and the enduring lesson that war should be remembered, not glorified. (more…)
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Anzac Day: remembering the perils of imperial subservience
As Anzac Day approaches, the history of Gallipoli offers a warning about the risks of uncritical loyalty to powerful allies and the consequences of decisions made elsewhere.
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The return of great power relations: Xi Jinping’s global dream – Part 3
In the third part of his piece for the Foreign Policy Rethink series, Geoff Raby examines how middle powers can navigate a world of competing great powers – and why Australia’s current approach is becoming more vulnerable.
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Australia has a teacher shortage – and an untapped workforce
Australia faces acute teacher shortages, yet thousands of qualified migrant teachers remain underemployed due to systemic barriers to entry.
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The real budget problem is what we call “spending”
Debates about debt and deficits overlook a central issue – large amounts of “spending” are hidden in tax concessions, subsidies and underpriced public resources. (more…)
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The Iran War is driving a global fertiliser shock
Disruption to fertiliser supplies through the Strait of Hormuz is driving up costs and raising the risk of a global food crisis, particularly in vulnerable regions.
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Fuel security needs a rethink – and rail is part of it
Australia’s reliance on imported fuel, declining reserves and road-heavy transport system have created vulnerabilities that require urgent policy reform.
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Turning waste into wealth
A vast “circularity gap” is driving resource depletion and risk, but closing it could unlock trillions in value and reduce pressure on the planet.
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The return of great power relations: a world of bounded orders – Part 2
In the second part of his piece for the Foreign Policy Rethink series, Geoff Raby examines how China is constructing a competing global order and reshaping the institutions that underpin international relations. (more…)
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Poorly designed campaign finance laws weaken our democracy
The High Court’s ruling on Victoria’s electoral laws shows how poorly designed campaign finance rules can undermine both fairness and the reforms they were meant to achieve.
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The forgotten war Australia would rather not remember
Michael Piggott’s ‘New Feller Master: Beyond the Trenches Australia’s Neglected WWI Story’, details Australia’s occupation of New Guinea and challenges familiar national narratives – confronting uncomfortable truths about power, race and legacy.
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Lovin’ democracy? You’re probably doing all right, then
Australia remains one of the world’s stronger democracies, but rising economic stress and inequality are shaping how people feel about it.
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Tune in, turn on, and drop out: the case for legalising psychedelics is stronger than ever
Decades of prohibition have failed to stop psychedelic drug use while blocking research and treatment options, raising questions about the basis of current laws.
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Non-discrimination is a core Australian value. We must defend it
Policies which link migration to “values” undermine a fundamental principle of Australia’s immigration system – fairness without discrimination.
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Tehran demands hundreds of billions in reparations. Guess who will pay?
If Iran succeeds in extracting reparations for the US–Israeli war, it would mark an historic shift in how power and accountability operate in the international system.
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The return of great power relations: What can middle powers do? Part 1
As part of the Foreign Policy Rethink series, Geoff Raby examines how Trump’s shift to great power politics is reshaping the global order and forcing middle powers to rethink their strategy. (more…)
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A prime-time hit job on renewables falls apart under basic facts
Spotlight’s TV report on renewables and EVs collapses under basic fact-checking, highlighting how misinformation is shaping Australia’s energy debate. (more…)
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The diesel shock shows why government must help freight electrify
As diesel prices surge, freight operators face mounting pressure, highlighting the urgent need for immediate support and a longer-term shift to electrified transport.
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Study warns of terrifying Atlantic Ocean current collapse
New research shows a critical Atlantic Ocean current system is weakening faster than expected, raising the risk of irreversible climate disruption. (more…)
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On immigration, we’ve heard this before – and we were wrong then too
Warnings about immigration echo almost word for word the fears once directed at post-war arrivals – fears history has already discredited. (more…)
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When prisons expand, policy has already failed
Plans to convert a Covid quarantine facility into a prison reflect a justice system responding to pressure with infrastructure instead of addressing the drivers of incarceration. (more…)
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Labor’s foreign policy no longer matches the world it faces
In the second on our Rethinking Foreign Policy series Kym Davey says Labor’s foreign policy platform is out of step with current realities – clinging to US alliance settings while ignoring its own commitment to self-reliance and the opportunities of the Asia-Pacific. (more…)
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Why has populism’s influence increased politically
Claims that rising inequality is driving populism overlook the evidence – stagnant wages and falling living standards are the more likely cause. (more…)
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It takes two to make alliances and the US may run away first
As US commitment to alliances wavers, Australia faces urgent questions about its security, independence, and place in a rapidly shifting global order. (more…)
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Duniam contradicts Taylor on Coalition immigration policy
Recent comments from Coalition Shadow Immigration Spokesperson Jonno Duniam expose inconsistencies in the party’s immigration policy, raising questions about feasibility, cost, and intent. (more…)
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As warnings mount over Trump, Cuba pays the price
A renewed US oil embargo on Cuba is deepening hardship on the island, reflecting a long-standing pattern of intervention driven as much by ideology as strategy.
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You can’t rush peace: the fatal flaws in the US–Iran talks
The collapse of recent US–Iran talks highlights how flawed negotiation design – not just substance – can doom peace efforts from the start.
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Plan B: insulating ourselves from the US
P&I today begins a major new series – rethinking Australia’s foreign policy. The United States is becoming more erratic and less reliable, and Australia must respond by insulating itself – strengthening regional ties, rethinking defence settings, and reducing strategic dependence, according to John Menadue.
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AUKUS and the sunk cost trap beneath the surface
As warfare shifts decisively toward autonomous and distributed systems, Australia’s massive investment in nuclear submarines risks locking in a costly and inflexible strategy. (more…)