Policy Spotlight
Melbourne Man Charged With Foreign Interference Offence
The phrase 'foreign interference' often brings to mind the covert meddling into Australian affairs by the Chinese and Russian governments, both the foes of democracy. It’s fascinating to observe Australian politicians and the public's attitude towards Russia and China. We are quick to reprimand Russia for its involvement in the Ukrainian conflict, yet our knees wobble when it comes to...
INTERVIEW: Former Chinese Diplomat Embraces Liberty
Since a new Labor government in Australia was elected in 2022, there has been a warming trend in Australia-China relations. Our ministers are back engaging with Beijing officials and trips to China by our elected leaders are resuming. The CCP influence whistleblower, Sydney based former Chinese diplomat Mr Yonglin Chen, who defected to Australia in 2005, issued a warning many...
FREEDOM! The Daughter of Davos Resigns.
Two extraordinary things happened yesterday. First, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation effective, at the latest, early in February 2023. (Yes, New Zealanders need to endure her for a few weeks more!) Second, I put out this short tweet yesterday together with a video of the Prime Minister, and it went viral. In a mere 180 minutes, it...
BREAKING: Violent CCP thug convicted in NSW
This week, a pro-Beijing self-described ‘spontaneous patriot’ was successfully convicted in a Sydney court of criminal intimidation. Last August 2022, prominent pro-democracy activist and former Hong-Kong Legislative Councillor, Ted Hui, suffered a politically driven assault and intimidation in Sydney. Chinese Communist Party supporter, Billy Kwok, influenced by the Chinese government’s propagandist apps WeChat and Weibo, was not happy with Mr. Hui’s...
WA Liberal Leader Scurries Out The Back Exit
It’s Lunar New Year this week. The term Lunar New Year is more accurate than Chinese New Year. The spring festival is not exclusively Chinese but celebrated throughout China, Hong Kong, Tibet, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and, yes, here in Australia among communities sharing this heritage. Liberty Itch strives for accuracy, an appreciation of all cultures which observe...
Section 51(xxvi). Repeal. Rescind. Delete!
By crikey, I’m a little bothered we’re always at sea politically. The Left is pounding us with wave after relentless policy wave. The Liberal Party has drowned, its body face-down, bobbing and drifting. We libertarians, classical liberals and the otherwise centre-right are in danger of the rip sweeping us to sea. Things are perilous. Just look at the eddies and currents fatiguing...
Taxing The Country Into Welfare And Disability
"We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperityis like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.It is impossible." Those were not the words of an Australian Commonwealth Treasurer but rather of Winston Churchill addressing the House of Commons in 1925 arguing against a proposed increase in taxes. Almost...
Betrayal for Bucks: A Seduction Story
If Foreign Interference is still a strange concept for laid-back Aussies, we will all soon be familiar with it – directed, supervised or financed foreign meddling and, unfortunately, citizens who knowingly assist with such foreign meddling for various reasons. The most common reason, of course, is financial benefits. And the most rampant meddler is not Iran, or even Russia, but Communist China,...
10 Funky Ideas To Move the Overton Window
It feels like we liberals are always on the back-foot. Here’s just a sample of what we face: Liberty Itch is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. 45% of GDP being government expenditure. Is 51% socialism? Voice To Parliament. How will a parliamentary ethno-chamber build cohesion? Payroll taxes. Who thought a tax...
An Open Letter To Mr. Alexander Downer
This open letter assumes the reader has also read the Australian Financial Review column by Alexander Downer dated 4 Dec 2022 found here . Start there and follow with this Open Letter. 27 January 2023 Dear Mr. Downer, I read your Australian Financial Review column dated 4 December 2022 with great interest. As a former State and Federal Executive member of the Liberal...
