The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived and the media frenzy has erupted, fuelled by news of the royal pregnancy. As media coverage goes, the Invictus Games team couldn’t have managed it any better. Yet, when it comes to the actions of the royal family, all that glisters is not gold. (Originally published at […]
Australia
Australia Preaches Respect for International Law in Syria while undermining the Law
Health professionals in Australia have strongly criticised the government for preaching respect for international law in Syria, while practising the opposite. Australia strongly endorses attacks on Syria by the US, the UK and France which violate international law, given they are neither conducted in self-defence nor authorised by the UN . Claims by Foreign Minister […]
Parliamentary Debate on Going to War is Long Overdue
This week marks the 15th anniversary, on March 20, of one of Australia’s most disastrous foreign policy decisions – our involvement in the invasion of Iraq. To characterise this as “our” involvement however does a great disservice to the millions of Australians who were vehemently opposed to the decision that was made by just one […]
The Strategic Dilemmas in Militarising Australian Exports
The Australian government’s recent decision to adopt an ambitious new defence manufacturing plan has met with controversy. Far beyond most job-creation initiatives, Malcolm Turnbull’s plan has international ramifications.
PM Turnbull’s ‘jobs’ argument for war profiteering is a sham
PM Turnbull’s push to make Australia a major weapons exporter puts paid to any pretence we might have of being a peace-loving nation. And his claim that it’s all about jobs is a sham. War profiteering is one of the least effective ways to create jobs.
Keep a strict line
(Published by The Age – letters page 5 February 2018) Over the years Australia has sold guns to government institutions in Papua New Guinea, which have sold them on to criminals in the civilian population. Armed violence now makes PNG one of the world’s most dangerous countries for its own citizens and for visitors. Australia […]