Turned to writing at 60, reckon that'll do for the next 30 years, then I'll become a musician - after that, who knows, maybe a wizard...
Big Four ‘under scrutiny’. Another committee, another report, and forty recommendations
The PwC multinational tax avoidance scandal has led to a slew of parliamentary inquiries, reports and much handwringing. The latest includes no less than 40 recommendations. But will anything change? Kim Wingerei reports. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on...
Climate resurrection – it’s not about belief
Climate resurrection is not a question of belief – yet religious dogma is holding the world back from taking decisive action – we can’t wait for Jesus!
Party politics is the real elephant in the room!
Seeing the self-destruction of a political opponent is, of course, more important than taking action against the destruction of our planet. Party politics is failing democracy in Australia.
The major parties are failing democracy – it’s time to act!
The latest poll shows that the two major parties combined now only have support from two thirds of voters. The latest in an endless series of leadership ructions is part of the problem. Voters just don’t trust politicians and it is the party system that is to blame.
The Gravity of Global Warming
There are people out there who still doubt the gravity of global warming, including politicians who should know better. Ignorance is no excuse. Climate science commentator Charles Nagy lays down the irrefutable facts.
Condemning neoliberalism
Condemning neoliberalism as Richard Denniss does in his recent Quarterly Essay is all well and good, but to change how policy formulation is done in our broken democracy we need to look at the root causes and reform the system, not just change the labels.
Why are we so afraid?
The debate about My Health Records is reminiscent of every such debate since the failed Australia Card scheme back in the eighties. Australians have a privacy obsession. What are we so afraid of?
The ABC needs relevance, not lifestyle!
The ABC Lifestyle initiative is an own goal. Instead of pandering to the lowest common denominator of content, it should focus on quality content and continue to excel its online delivery.
You cannot kill what’s already dead!
Apparently, the sale of Fairfax to Nine is the end of journalism in Australia, the triumph of the cheque book as the only arbiter of a good story and the death knell of democracy. Paul Keating – that most eloquent and cerebral of political alley cats – was particularly scathing in his assessment, but he isn’t alone.
The stakes are too high – the party is over!
Party politics has been allowed to take control over the political discourse at all levels. The voters are disillusioned and disengaged. How do we break the Gordian Knot of partisan control over democracy?