Albanese on the back foot on antisemitism

Anthony Albanese points to the array of measures his government has taken to tackle the scourge of antisemitism but he can’t escape the impression of seeming perennially on the back foot and often lacking adequate empathy and sensitivity in dealing with the issue.

Preparing for Trump

How should Australia react to the likely geo-political priorities of Donald Trump’s second term in power?

Oligarchy in the USA

Outgoing US President Joe Biden warned “an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy” in his farewell address.

On the road again

Anthony Albanese’s pledge of $7.2 billion to revamp the Bruce Highway looks like an early bid to buy votes in Queensland in what may be a tight Federal election campaign.

Albanese hits the campaign trail

Anthony Albanese has hit the campaign trail ahead of the forthcoming Federal election, although the election date has not been announced and no sitting Prime Minister has won re-election since John Howard.

The golden age of the gaffe

Though trivial in themselves, a politician’s “gaffe” can hint at much greater political failings, but the media’s eagerness to pounce on missteps rather than analyse policy substance may be a bigger problem.

Fickle friends

The world looks a lot less friendly for Australia than it did at the beginning of 2024 and this is unlikely to change any time soon. Australia needs to face its situation realistically rather than relying on the illusion that ‘great and powerful friends’ have its best interests at heart.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

As New Zealand’s controversial Treaty Principles Bill goes to a Parliamentary Select Committee Hearing it’s worth considering whether te Tiriti o Waitangi really does undermine liberal democracy as the Bill’s proponents say.

Sausages and cauldrons: Making law and policy in 21st Century Australia

The divergent fates of proposed federal legislation to restrict social media use by children and online gambling adverts for everyone highlight the complex interplay of public concern, political convenience and vested interest lobbying which shapes policy making in contemporary Australia.

The perils of regulating free speech

The Federal government has withdrawn its misinformation bill, not least because regulating speech in a democracy will always be an ethical minefield

Shorten’s plea for moderation

In his farewell speech to Parliament, Bill Shorten has declared himself ‘a proud moderate’ and that Australians ‘in the middle’ shouldn’t be hostage to intolerant fringes.

Uncovering election coverage

Media coverage in Australia of the US presidential election and of the Voice referendum in October 2023 offer some pointers to what we might expect during next year’s federal election campaign.