The Monthly’s politics newsletter recently asked ‘For how long do we pretend ”better than the Coalition” equals “good enough”? It’s a damn good question. Prior to the election, now Prime Minister Albanese launched a plan that would reduce Australia’s 2030 carbon emissions by 43% when compared to 2...
Revisionism is a general term that can be used with both positive and negative connotations for any scholarly practice dedicated to revising an established position. That is its benign meaning. Another is: “A movement in revolutionary Marxian socialism favouring an evolutionary rather than a revo...
It feels almost irreligious to use ‘exodus’ to portray the disappearance of so many key figures from Australia’s political scene. But it seems to fit. What outcome might we anticipate? Ye?i’at Mi?rayim: ?'Departure from Egypt' is the founding myth of the Israelites, recounted in the Book of Exod...
As the hostilities resume on Capital Hill, it is probably time to consider some of the ramifications of the May 2022 Federal Election. As discussed by Katherine Murphy in The Guardian, the Liberal Party rout in affluent suburban areas of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth speaks volumes on the t...
How many times have you heard the Liberals mouth Labor can’t manage money? What though, is the Liberal record? Treasurer Jim Chalmers belled the cat when he said: “The economy was weaker in the March quarter than was forecast at election time. "Growth at 0.8 per cent was…much weaker than what w...
It’s almost surreal that this man, who has been in our face so often for what feels like endless years, has disappeared! His whereabouts seems to be a mystery. Does anyone know where he’s gone? Having gone, what has he left us with? The image of a talking mouth relentlessly haranguing us with his...
Every political commentator in the land has their own personal opinion, most hide it and at least present a facade of even-handed questioning of politicians from all sides of politics. A week and a bit before the election, Sky News Paul Murray didn’t. In what The Guardian called an expletive laden a...
As you walk into a polling booth next Saturday remember this — despite the media harassing some candidates to outline who they are ‘giving preferences to’ or party workers trying to shove how to vote cards in your hands as you turn up at the booth, no political party controls the preferences that yo...
Finland and Sweden are currently exploring joining NATO. The about face from long term neutrality has come about because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The ABC reported recently that there has been a significant shift in the attitude of the Finnish and Swedish Governments from ‘don’t poke the (...
You should feel a bit sorry for Tim Banfield. While he did choose to become a member of Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party, then put his hand up to be the UAP candidate for the Illawarra based seat of Whitlam at the upcoming federal election, he didn’t deserve to be sacked as a candidate 24 hours...
The ‘Gold Star of Dishonour’ for the most unedifying display in the first week or so on the 2022 Federal Election campaign is a tough call. Is it George Christensen announcing his cynical candidature on the One Nation Queensland Senate ticket? If an elected politician runs for election and fails, ...
So the election has been called. Everybody that believes they should be in Parliament will be travelling around, kissing babies (if that’s still allowed) and proclaiming from the rooftops that they are the best thing since sliced bread and should be your representative on Capital Hill. Most of them ...