John Menadue’s public policy journal. Progressive Australian analysis on politics, policy, world affairs, defence + society.
Watsons Bay, Australia
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Thailand is using its strong lottery culture to encourage informal workers to save for retirement – but questions remain about whether the scheme will change behaviour or fuel more gambling.
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Court rulings have struck down NSW protest laws as unconstitutional, reaffirming that peaceful protest is a vital component of democratic life and cannot be curtailed by government overreach.
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In the latest in our Foreign Policy Rethink series, Mike Gilligan argues that Australia’s renewed focus on defence self-reliance is incompatible with its deepening commitment to AUKUS and nuclear submarines.
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Australian politics is shifting towards issue-based campaigning funded by small donors, leaving major parties struggling to adapt to a rapidly changing political environment.
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The best way to stop the massive under-taxation of Australian LNG would be to fix the petroleum resource rent tax, but a quick second best would be a tax on export revenue.
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In the latest of our Foreign Policy Rethink series, Gareth Evans argues that Australia’s foreign policy must give greater weight to being, and being seen as, a good international citizen.
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ANZAC Day honours service and sacrifice, but its deeper meaning lies in recognising the human cost of war and the responsibility to learn from it.
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The Australia–Japan relationship is critical to energy, economic and regional security, and must be strengthened to respond to a more fragmented and uncertain global order.
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Writers and artists are being cancelled for their political views, even when those views are not expressed in their work, narrowing the space for cultural debate and free expression.
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Electric vehicles are now cost-competitive and critical to reducing exposure to global fuel shocks, making faster adoption a matter of economic and national security.
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The proposed NDIS overhaul marks a rare moment of substantive reform – and a test of whether the Albanese government is willing to follow through in the face of political pressure.
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A court ruling has cleared the way for extradition, but the decision now turns political – and whether the prime minister steps in to protect an Australian citizen.
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In the latest of our Foreign Policy Rethink series, Peter Varghese outlines how alliance, region and multilateralism must be recalibrated for a more contested and uncertain global order.
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The US debt debate often focuses on foreign creditors, but the real issue lies within America’s own political and economic system.
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Claims about dementia may seem explanatory, but diagnosing from a distance is flawed – and risks stigma, misinformation and misplaced accountability.
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In a new book out today, Thom Woodroofe argues that climate and energy policy must connect with everyday economic pressures if it is to build lasting public support.
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Australia’s framing of China as a security threat remains deeply embedded – and is being reshaped to fit new geopolitical developments.
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Israel’s escalating wars reflect a long-standing strategy of military dominance, but recent conflicts are exposing its limits and internal contradictions.
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Research shows that logging, thinning and prescribed burning can increase forest flammability, challenging long-held assumptions about bushfire risk reduction.
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Australia’s defence and foreign policy settings are focused on geopolitical rivalry, while far greater systemic risks – especially climate disruption – receive little strategic attention.
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