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Dec 11, 2024 | 
themandarin.com.au | Sean Innis
Philosopher Byung-Chul Han calls it a disappearance. He sees it as a symptom of modernity and the evils (as he views them) of neoliberalist life. The result has been a harmful erosion of community harmony or, in government speak, social cohesion. Han does not ‘necessarily’ call for a return to a world based on ritual. But he is deeply concerned about the loss of structure, meaning and shared experience ritual once provided.
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Nov 7, 2024 | 
themandarin.com.au | Sean Innis
Australia faces a constitutional dilemma. Our constitution, while serving the nation reasonably well, is a little stale and does not fully address the challenges of modern governance. More importantly, it fails to capture any sense of Australia’s modern identity. Altering the constitution is, however, difficult. Australians place a high value on protecting the peaceful continuity our stable constitution brings.
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Nov 5, 2024 | 
themandarin.com.au | Stephen Bartos |Kim Carr |Sean Innis |Cathy Fussell
The six months or so before an election is a testing time for public servants who deal with ministers or develop and implement new policies. Campaigning has not yet begun — officially. Prior to the caretaker period, governments can still take policy decisions and have every right to expect the public service to help them with their policy processes from ideas through to rollout.
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Nov 4, 2024 | 
themandarin.com.au | Tom Ravlic |Kim Carr |Sean Innis |Cathy Fussell
Having public servants with similar but different roles can cause confusion during Senate estimates. This was the case when the Australian Public Sector Commission appeared before its inquisitors this week.
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Nov 4, 2024 | 
themandarin.com.au | Dan Holmes |Kim Carr |Sean Innis |Cathy Fussell |Daniel Holmes
Senate opposition leader Simon Birmingham has suggested calling Anthony Albanese’s chief of staff before Senate estimates. Birmingham grilled Prime Minister and Cabinet staff about the Albanese’s role in the decision to rebuff a Qatar Airways bid to run more flights in Australia. Transport Minister Catherine King has previously responded to a question on notice, saying she spoke to ministerial colleagues about Qatar Airways, but made the decision herself.
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Nov 3, 2024 | 
themandarin.com.au | Taylor Hawkins |Kim Carr |Sean Innis |Cathy Fussell
Australians are culturally hardwired to aspire for a “fair go”. To collectively realise this vision, we must direct our resources and knowledge to ensure that future generations can enjoy a fairer society. Redirecting our attention from the short-term can help us address some of Australia’s most significant challenges, such as rising costs of living, income inequality, unequal healthcare access, declining education performance, and climate change.
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Oct 31, 2024 | 
themandarin.com.au | Julian Bajkowski |Kim Carr |Sean Innis |Cathy Fussell
“Woo Hoo! I’ll process this Monday”Those are the words of a [redacted] employee in the Attorney General’s Department (AGD) to their relatively recently promoted deputy secretary, Simon Newnham, having scored an invitation to the exclusive Qantas Chairman’s Lounge. “Thanks. Interesting. SN” comes the possibly cautious reply.
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Oct 31, 2024 | 
themandarin.com.au | Sean Innis |Tom Ravlic |Stephen Bartos |Andrew Leigh
If Australia’s constitution were drafted today, it would be very different to the document we seem to hold so sacrosanct. Some of the content would likely be similar. But some would likely not. The context in which it is written would also be very different. Even the process for drafting the constitution would be very different. Women and Australia’s First Peoples would play major roles in the process, rather than none at all.
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Oct 29, 2024 | 
themandarin.com.au | Tom Ravlic |Michael Mintrom |Stephen Bartos |Sean Innis
More than half of the cases managed by the Parliamentary Workplace Support Services came from MPs’ offices, according to its annual report. The PWSS, which provides counselling and training services to help politicians, their staff and others working in parliamentary workplaces, dealt with 339 cases between October 1, 2023 and June 30. Just over 190 came from those who work for members of parliament.
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Oct 29, 2024 | 
themandarin.com.au | Sean Innis |Assel Mussagulova |Colette Einfeld |Jackson Graham
According to English weather enthusiasts, 1837 will always be remembered for its ‘exceptionally’ cold spring. Winter was no picnic either. The weather in January was ‘frigidly’ cold and considerable snow covered the English landscape. Late in 1836, an avalanche in Sussex had destroyed homes and killed eight people. The site now hosts a convivial country pub. Its name: The Snowdrop Inn. That same winter, in a presumably warm courtroom, a case was being decided that would make legal history.
