Australia in the World
“Should democracies ever lie?” Sort of. Maybe. Not really
The good functioning of liberal democracies relies on a healthy information environment. For citizens to make well-informed, free choices, public discourse must be authentic and …
Downer, Turnbull, Trump and a poke in the Five Eyes
“What he did would have got any other ambassador sacked. It was reckless and self-indulgent and put the Australian government in a very awkward position.”
Strong comments from…
Commentary
Morrison’s secret appointments are a slippery slope
Levels of political trust in Australia are among the lowest in the world and this latest saga will not help matters. Originally published in the Australian Financial Review.
Why engaging Asia matters even more
The political philosopher Edmund Burke once observed that society was a contract across generations linking the past, present and future. Something similar can be said about…
The merits of transactionalism
In July this year, a South Korean delegation visited Canberra to discuss potential arms sales. While various capabilities were mooted, from cannon to submarines, the visitors made…
Should democracies ever lie?
Should liberal democracies ever tell lies?
That’s one of the questions raised by reports that Facebook and Twitter have recently taken down a web of accounts, originating in…
Penny Wong on “30 minutes with the PM” and Australia’s global interest
Foreign Minister Penny Wong was asked last week about the new Interpreter series “30 minutes with the PM”, which has invited some of the less well-known ambassadors and high…
A new Marcos gets down to business
Sugar coating
As Australia’s former prime minister Scott Morrison has drawn international attention for his efforts to secretly grab power, the region’s newest leader is…
Asia skills critical to Australia’s economic future and security
The Albanese government will hold its Jobs and Skills Summit next week in Canberra amid fierce debate about immigration, skills shortages, real wage growth and an uncertain…
Commentary
Australia’s responsibility is to see, hear and advocate for the people of Taiwan
As China chastises Australia for not siding with the ‘victim’, let’s see Taiwan on its own terms and not through the frame of Sino-US rivalry. Originally published in The Guardian…