On Empire - something to read and ponder over - posted by

Graham and I are having something of a dispute over the word Empire. I have pointed out that I am not alone in using the term to describe current American policy. Scholars of all political hues have employed the expression.... More

Replying to Graham on Iraq - long - posted by

Gary, You say "However I will not from behind my lap top lecture those who seek to resist violence with violence," but that is in fact what you are doing. The US, British and Australians resist violence with violence and... More

John Howard should sue - for all of us! - posted by Graham

Should John Howard sue for defamation? I would, that’s if I were John Howard and had seen the site www.johnhowardlies.com. Alternatively, I might go to this site www.afternic.com/rcom.php?ref_id=2987 where I can make an anonymous offer to buy the URL. On... More

The non-Labor amalgamation cause suffers a setback. - posted by Jeff Wall

WHEN I was at school we were taught almost as much about Canada – and other Commonwealth countries – as we were about Australia. Times have changed, and I venture to suggest that most politicians here could not name the... More

Iraq - the end of the beginning. - posted by Graham

Some of the critical commentary on the war in Iraq seems to show the same lack of concern for human life that the accusers level at “warmongers” such as George Bush, Tony Blair and John Howard. The AFR’s Geoffrey Barker... More

Bathos in Iraq - posted by

So the Occupation has ended in a secret ceremony! What a bathetic joke. I was tempted to write 'So that is how the Occupation ends, not with a bang but a whimper.' Except of course that the Occupation has not... More

On a sense of persepctive - posted by

The sight of yet another hostage, marine Hassoun Wassef Ali, in Iraq being prepared for the grisly ritual of arraignment, soon to be refused demands, and then the brutal beheading - all delivered to us on the web - is... More

Housing Summit just gets more unaffordable - posted by Graham

Just as I predicted the National Summit on Housing Affordability is developing into an eyrie of bird-brained schemes that will make the affordability “problem” worse, not better. It is also encouraging others to come out independently with their own deficient... More

Happy Anniversary Pete - posted by

Yesterday marked the sixth anniversary of the Beattie Government's ascension to power (gee, it only felt like five years and three hundred and sixty-five days). There would be few people who would argue that Beattie hasn't be a good leader;... More

True Love Waits or Just Waiting for the Fall? - posted by

President George W Bush’s faith makes it predictable that sex education in American schools is increasingly about teaching teenagers not to do it, rather than how they should protect themselves when they do. While public promises to abstain prior to... More

A major test for the power to direct police. - posted by Jeff Wall

THE Rt Hon David Blunkett is one of the more interesting Members of the Blair Government in the UK. He is also one of the most powerful – and successful. Totally blind, David Blunkett has held the largest, and most... More

Let's hope this summit is a peak. - posted by Graham

It promises to be an orgy of self-interest – property developers and the welfare industry getting together to fix a problem which doesn’t exist – the housing crisis. Next week in Canberra there will be a National Summit on Housing... More

Could Mark Vaile's career be prematurely terminated? - posted by Jeff Wall

THE national media spends too much time looking at broad opinion poll figures and not enough time looking at what is happening in individual seats, and regions, right around Australia. For as long as I can remember, uniform swings have... More

The Anglican Church is about to face a significant credibility test - will it measure up? - posted by Jeff Wall

THE credibility of the commitment by the Anglican Church to dealing resolutely with the mishandling of sex abuse issues over many decades is about to be put to a significant test. The allegations against the former Archbishop of Adelaide, Dr... More

Latham to privatise tax and social security. - posted by Graham

How do you win an election by promising to increase services at the same time that you promise to decrease taxes? Easy, privatise the tax and welfare systems. At least that appears to be the strategy implicit in Labor’s banking... More

The Honourable Bill Richardson - the dark horse for the John Kerry ticket? - posted by Jeff Wall

NOW that US election campaigning has resumed – it was suspended by the Democrat candidate, John Kerry, for a week as a tribute to Ronald Reagan – attention has quickly turned to who might be Kerry’s “running mate”. The Vice... More

The Long March: Adventures in Unenthusiastic Activism - posted by

In his new book, Peace Kills: America’s Fun New Imperialism, P.J.O’Rourke casts a cynical eye over four marches that occurred simultaneously in Washington D.C. a couple of years ago. These rallies, which came together in one mass of futility, had... More

Why can't our leaders be this gracious? - posted by Jeff Wall

THE following statement was made in Washington, USA, earlier this week: “Over eight years, it was clear that Bill Clinton loved the job of the presidency. He filled this house with energy and joy. He’s a man of enthusiasm and... More

“Can Do” Campbell’s canny home maintenance budget - is it enough? - posted by Graham

Last week Brisbane’s new Liberal Lord Mayor Campbell Newman delivered his first budget. It delivered on his campaign promises and continued on his theme of being the “Can Do” Mayor, but will this be enough? This budget is more interesting... More

Latham Says (Sort of) Howard's Hoity Toity - posted by

Mark Latham spent part of the weekend addressing delegates, observers and others at the Australian Labor Party’s (ALP’s) State Conference. While it’s arguable that Conference is less dull and painful than watching lawn bowls and having your bikini line waxed,... More

The church behaves badly - and the insurers continue to evade responsibility. - posted by Jeff Wall

THE resignation of Ian George as Anglican Archbishop of Adelaide has been as messy as it has been necessary. The allegations against Dr George are significantly more serious than those levelled against Peter Hollingworth that forced his resignation as Governor... More

Cabinet for comment? - posted by Graham

Oh to be an actor. You get to play make-believe every day. Or a rock star, even a social campaigning one. Seems that lyrics are no more than the words that come out of your mouth, not the beliefs that... More

Celebrity Politicians - the record is not encouraging - posted by Jeff Wall

THE endorsement of Peter Garrett as Labor Candidate for Kingsford Smith is now a foregone conclusion. If his proponents had looked over the record of “celebrity” candidates in Australian politics they might have had second thoughts. Choosing celebrity candidates is... More

Ronald Wilson Reagan - some further thoughts - posted by Jeff Wall

IT is hardly surprising that some commentators have sought to highlight only Ronald Reagan’s failings, and ignore totally his not insignificant achievements. One or two have been quite unbalanced in their commentaries. That is their right, but I am reminded... More

Burnt by Oils. - posted by Graham

Appointing front man of apocalyptic rock group Midnight Oil as the new member for the safe Labor seat of Kingsford Smith is Mark Latham’s biggest mistake to date. It reinforces perceptions that Latham represents style over substance; reeks with the... More

The Ipswich Motorway Bypass - a $400 million political folly. - posted by Jeff Wall

MY friend Sir James Killen occasionally reminds me of some very sound advice Sir Arthur Fadden gave him when he entered Federal Parliament – there are more Members who talk their way out of Parliament than who talk their way... More

Ms Portrayal - posted by

This is a slightly edited version of a piece I wrote some time ago for Heretical, the University of Queensland’s Women’s Area publication. I thought I would drag it out since Cheryl Kernot has been mentioned again as a warning... More

Howard and the disadvantages of foreign travel - posted by Graham

Mark Latham’s cancellation of his plans to travel to the USA later this year was smart, judging from the electoral problems John Howard’s trip is generating him. I am not in the school which says that George W Bush is... More

Ronald Wilson Reagan - a speechwriter's perspective. - posted by Jeff Wall

HAVING written, speeches, statements and communications strategies for politicians here and in Papua New Guinea for over 30 years I perhaps have a greater appreciation than most of good communicators. I am old enough to have heard Sir Robert Menzies... More

Labor’s secret $3 petrol plan? - posted by Graham

I recently invested some time investigating a government press release merely to find it was one of the worst beat-ups I have ever seen. Rather than waste my time, I’ve decided to write about the experience. The release came to... More

Is the War on Drugs hurting the War on Terrorism? - posted by Graham

According to Rory Callinan in The Australian Afghanistan is expecting a bumper 3600 tonne opium crop – the same as last year. This “will provide a huge narcotics war chest for Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists who have been squeezed by... More

The Letter L: It Ain't The L Word, But It's Just As Bad - posted by

This piece is dedicated to the good and caring folk at the Australian Family Association, because that little girl on Play School with her two mummies should know she doesn't have a real family. Troubled station Channel 35 has finally... More

Are inner city roads for motorists or developers? - posted by Jeff Wall

IF you have been delayed by the inexcusable closure of all but one lane in Edward Street Brisbane you have my sympathy, for that is more than the Brisbane City Council, or Watpac, will give you. When I read that... More

Darlene (Almost) Dines Out with Professor David Flint - posted by

It’s been a tough few months for the man The Sydney Morning Herald’s P P McGuiness astutely, and without overstatement, labelled “the most recent victim of the lynch mob mentality rife in Australian public debate”. As I wait for Professor... More

Forget Trish Draper, these 47 words are much more damaging. - posted by Graham

There were 47 words in last Friday’s interview between Ryan MHR Michael Johnson and ABC Radio’s Steve Austin that have the potential to do the Howard Government much more damage than the Trish Draper affair. They could mean that the... More