Passionate about free speech, human rights, democracy and the politics of change. Commentator and author, occasional poet, sometime translator, creator of The Why Series – changing our world one book at the time.
Independent media continues to grow!
Independent media continues to grow apace, while mainstream media is at best stagnant. Independent media grew by 9.7% in February 2019, compared to a paltry 1.1% at the big end of media town. A piece I wrote a couple of months ago resonated with readers and spurred me...
read more
“Basic Infrastructure for a Good Life”
“It [fibre] is basic infrastructure for a good life”. So ends a new book by Susan Crawford, a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, on the plight of delivering better broadband for Americans. The book “Fiber: The Coming Tech Revolution and Why...
read more
Keep it Simple, Stupid!
KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid – was widely used as a slogan in the computer industry throughout the eighties and nineties. “The Office” made it a meme – but it is an adage worth resurrecting as a guiding principle.
read more Is an NBN quick fix possible?
As we enter 2019 there will likely be increasing excitement about the prospects of a new Labor government taking control of the NBN policy and fixing the mistakes of the last 5 years of Coalition’s NBN policy. For example on New Years’ Day the Australian Financial...
read more
True Banking Reform is Long Overdue!
Banking reform is long overdue. The many sensible recommendations in the Banking Royal Commission report stops a long way short of true reform! (Part 2 of my analysis)
First published on MichaelWest
Political bastardy and silly politics
The franking credits scare campaign is working. Once again, sensible tax reforms is sacrificed on the altar of short-term politics and the absence of a holistic approach. Once again politics gets in the way of policy making. Once again, fear and obfuscation are winning.
First published on Independent Australia
Lies, fear and obfuscation
What Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez showed about American politics is equally relevant here. As we enter into what may the last Parliamentary sitting week before the next Federal election, I fear it will descend into more lies, fear and obfuscation than ever.
read more
Tinkering with the banks is not enough!
The Banking Commission’s report was released this week. An impressive document containing many sensible recommendations. But it all amounts to not much more than tinkering with a flawed system.
First published on MichaelWest
Why a write-down for NBN Co is not the main issue
The possible write-down of taxpayer’s investment in NBN Co is again making news. The Labor Opposition have again put a spotlight on this issue by challenging the chairman of NBN Co, Ziggy Switkowski, to justify his statements that no write-down is necessary at...
read more
Democracy decline – it’s not just about elections!
Democracy is in decline in the world. Australia is now among one of only twenty full democracies according to The Economist’s annual Democracy Index, but we cannot afford to be complacent!
read moreMy books available for purchase - click on a title for details:
GetMyNewsletter
Max once a week.
I don't use your email for anything else and you can unsubscribe if I bore you.
Thank you - hope you'll enjoy it!
Privacy Policy