Pearls and Irritations

2 days ago | johnmenadue.com | David Spratt

It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing on 17 May of Ali Kazak, at the age of 78. Over five decades, Ali dedicated his enormous energy to building understanding and support for Palestine, the land of his birth. As a young activist, as the PLO representative and then Palestine ambassador, and as an educator and organiser Ali Kazak was, more than any other person, at the centre of the transformation of the politics of Palestine in Australia.

4 days ago | johnmenadue.com | Michael Keating

A carbon tax will obviously help reduce carbon emissions and achievement of the net zero target, but it will also help raise the revenue needed to fund essential government services and promote Australia’s economic development. Many Labor supporters, including such Labor giants as Bill Kelty, have been critical of what they see as the Albanese Government’s minimalist policy strategy in the last Parliament.

4 days ago | johnmenadue.com | Brett Wilkins

“No matter how dangerous this mission is, it’s nowhere near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the live-streamed genocide,” said climate activist Greta Thunberg, who is aboard the Madleen.

5 days ago | johnmenadue.com | Jack Waterford

Was there ever anything more predictable, and more shameful than the detached and independent — and, of course, apolitical — decision by federal Environment Minister Murray Watt that damage caused to Aboriginal Australian heritage values could not weigh as heavily as the economic interest of Woodside’s Northwest Shelf project, worth billions of dollars, potentially trillions?

6 days ago | johnmenadue.com | Samuel Hume

New Zealand officials drew heavily on Australian defence documents to produce the 2025 Defence Capability Plan, which indicates the country’s intended military acquisitions and development for the next 15 years. Under this plan, New Zealand will increase military spending as a share of GDP from 1.59% in 2022 to more than 2% by 2033.