What extraordinary overkill for the Prime Minister to be personally talking to an Australian teenager jailed in Bali on drug charges – particularly as her call has more to do with trumping Foreign Minister Rudd, than with helpful diplomacy. Prime Ministerial calls are a last resort in international diplomacy and her rush to outdo Mr. [...] Continue reading » » »
Flawed national interest analysis
Nearly two years ago (Wednesday, 2 December 2009), one of my letters relating to climate change policy was published in the Examiner . It occurs to me on re-reading it this evening that it remains relevant two years later. Here it is: In the aftermath of the Senate voting down the Emission Trading Scheme bill for a second time [...] Continue reading » » »
Gillard’s Promises: ‘Moving Forward’ Speech – 16 August 2010
In her own words, some of Prime Minister Gillard’s key promises in an address to the ALP Campaign Launch in Brisbane, just four days before the 2010 Election: “I’m too humble to compare myself to either Ben Chifley or Barack Obama, but I am asking you, I am asking you when you vote on Saturday, [...] Continue reading » » »
Wilkie on the Insiders
I just saw the Andrew Wilkie interview on Insiders yesterday and continue to be staggered by his casual speculation about bringing down the Government, the importance of pokie machine reform relative to other big issues confronting Australia, and whether or not Julia Gillard will be leading the ALP by May 2012 or not!! He clearly [...] Continue reading » » »
