Pearls and Irritations – Public policy journal
WEB3 days ago — Secrecy Australia: big gap between official information and reality: Peter Cronau, Declassified Australia. Australia is blanketed in a climate of secrecy with over 800 secrecy offences criminalised with jail terms and large fines under nearly 200 pieces of legislation. By Michael Lester and Peter Cronau Sep 25, 2024. Economic policy, Politics.
An open and free Indo-Pacific, or stability at home?
WEB10 hours ago — Sep 29, 2024. The Voice of America, in an article about why the Quad met in Washington this week, claims that the aims of the Quad are to create an open and free Indo-Pacific. Biden, in a prepared remark, suggested his Administration believes “Xi Jinping is looking to focus on domestic economic challenges …
Suppose Australia was more independent and less dumb
WEB10 hours ago — Suppose Australia was more independent and less dumb. Look at how favourably situated Australia is in the world. As the foundations were put in place for the Asian Century, most profoundly by China, Australia was in the right place at the right time and it benefitted inordinately. Looking forward, as …
Federal seat redistribution implications of bias to small tweaks
WEB10 hours ago — By Michael Lester and Ben Raue. Sep 29, 2024. The Australian Electoral Commission has announced proposed redistributions of the boundaries of federal election seats with NSW losing a seat (North Sydney), while Victoria and Western Australia each gained a seat with the average number in a NSW seat, increased from the current 118,000 to …
A five-minute scroll - Pearls and Irritations
WEB2 days ago — By Pearls and Irritations. Sep 27, 2024. We round up the week at the UN in New York where thousands have gathered to denounce Benjamin Netanyahu and demand his arrest. Groups have also called for the resignation of Antony Blinken for alleged lies to Congress, and we question why Jordan, also a US ally, can speak out against Israel.
Five-minute scroll - Pearls and Irritations
WEBSep 16, 2024 — By Pearls and Irritations. Sep 16, 2024. We start the week with our five-minute scroll on X to bring you a sample of the world and local issues that may not be found in our mainstream media. Today the first posts we saw include the plea to educate yourself on the history of Israel’s actions in Gaza, Malcolm Turnbull talks reality regarding ...
All articles - Pearls and Irritations
WEBA five-minute scroll. A five-minute scroll of X uncovers abhorrent settler behaviour, questions about Peter Dutton’s nuclear platform, South Africa speaking out for Palestine in the UN, Chris Sidoti on the Israeli Army, Genocide Tourism and news of Julian Assange. By Pearls and Irritations Sep 25, 2024. AUKUS, Defence and Security, Politics.
Public Policy - Pearls and Irritations
WEB3 days ago — Environment: Pacific politician calls out Australia’s climate duplicity. The temperature is rising and the world is getting increasingly dangerous, even the rich bits. Former Tuvalu PM slams Australia’s climate policies. Rights of and around rivers. By Peter Sainsbury Jun 16, 2024. Politics, Public Policy.
Twenty thousand articles in Pearls and Irritations and counting
WEBIt was quite a surprise when I noticed last week that we had posted so many articles over 13 years. The 20,000 articles (listed here) include over 700 of my own. A selection of these, about 100, is now published in an eBook, ‘Summing Up’. When we launched Pearls and Irritations I wrote all the articles and Susie handled all the production and administration.
About - Pearls and Irritations
WEBAbout. Pearls and Irritations is an Australian platform for the exchange of ideas from a progressive, liberal perspective, with an emphasis on peace and justice. We publish informed analysis and commentary on issues that matter to Australians, with a focus on politics, public policy, foreign policy and world affairs, defence and security, the ...