Australia
Resisting Centralist Power – Part 1
In 1901, when six individual British colonies came together as a federation, it was in an environment of extensive and, at times, torrid debate. While there was widespread acceptance that the colonies could achieve together what they could not achieve alone, there was also apprehension about the extent to which the power to govern would become centralised. The enthusiasm and...
No Headspace Evidence
Is there a pandemic of mental illness among young people? Is almost one in two young women affected by mental illness? In an opinion article in The Australian, Patrick McGorry, a celebrated psychiatrist, 2010 Australian of the Year and recipient of an Order of Australia Award for his services to youth mental health, claimed this was so. McGorry quoted a paper...
Windfall?
The Guardian recently said the quiet part out loud – the Coalition’s pivot towards nuclear energy is scaring away the big money that is backing renewables. That’s right, the mere fact that the Federal Opposition (who aren’t fancied to win the next election mind you) has proposed nuclear energy for Australia is enough to put investors off backing renewable projects....
Welcome to Borroloola Land
Every failure in Aboriginal affairs creates an opportunity to offer a shiny new bauble to public servants and the journalistic cheer squad. Last weekend, in light of the failure of the Voice referendum, there were three baubles – naming an Indigenous state, renewable self-determination, and a new economic development plan. The cost of the baubles is to put off the...
A Nation of Takers
One of the many inequities of Australia’s welfare system is the exclusion of family homes from the means test. Recipients of age or disability pensions can own houses worth millions of dollars while remaining eligible for pensions funded by the taxes of people who cannot afford to buy a house at all. In private, many politicians agree that excluding the...
Olympic Dam’s Gold Medal Performance
It is exactly 50 years since Western Mining first discovered the massive gold, silver, copper and uranium ore body at the aptly-named Olympic Dam in South Australia. A golden anniversary indeed! But discovering the ore was just the beginning. The fight to allow uranium mining at Olympic Dam was brutal. The ruling Labor Party, under then Premier Don Dunstan, was vehemently opposed...
More Political Competition
According to Treasurer Jim Chalmers, increasing competition among supermarket giants will help deliver lower grocery prices: "If it is more competitive, more transparent and people are getting a fair go, better outcomes will be seen at the supermarket checkout". The ACCC also notes that competition encourages innovation. But where enhanced market competition can lead to improved consumer outcomes, enhanced political competition...
Carpet Call: The Imperfect Gift of Religious Freedom
John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) is a clever guy. As Robert McCall (aka Denzel Washington) says in the movie Equalizer 2 to Miles, a troubled teenager: ‘It takes talent to make money, Miles, but it takes brains to keep it’. Regardless of one’s taste in music, there’s no doubting John Lydon had talent – and brains. ‘Imperfection is...
Out of Proportion
Recent elections in both the UK and France highlight major flaws in their electoral systems, with lessons for Australia. Compare the pair: UK Labour (2024 UK election) National vote share: 33.8% Seats won (% of chamber): 63.38 Australian Labor Party (2022 Australian Federal election) National vote share (2pp): 52.13% Seats won (% of chamber): 51 How can an electoral system be considered fair when one party (Labour)...
Childcare – Why should you pay for it?
Starting before they are born, our governments spend a lot of money on children. The Commonwealth budget for education alone is $67 billion, and in NSW $24 billion. Add the other states and territories, plus health care, and as the saying goes, pretty soon you’re talking real money. While our society obviously values children highly, it is rare that anyone questions...
