Monthly Archives: August 2004

In breaking news, Mark Latham has just called for fixed four year terms. We’re not sure whether Imagining Australia had any impact on his thinking, but we like to hope it did. For an abbreviated version of our arguments for … Continue reading →

A few weeks ago, I worked my way through Bill Clinton’s “My Life”. I must confess, somewhat sheepishly, that I loved it. As far as I can tell, reviewers have been unanimous in their critique: a bore of a book … Continue reading →

Has the Treasurer taken a quick peek at IA? Over the last three months, Peter Costello has begun to articulate a more expansive vision for the future of the country. He’s talked about the importance of social capital and tolerance, … Continue reading →

According to today’s papers, the Labor Party seems to be making a sensible decision to oppose providing a higher private health care rebate to older Australians. (From April 2005, the Federal Government plans to increase the 30 per cent private … Continue reading →

In today’s Sydney Morning Herald, Tony Moore argues that our tradition of telling Australian stories is being lost, in favour of dumbed down stories, and tales from Olde England: We need more of the likes of Rabbit-Proof Fence and Ned … Continue reading →

If you’re interested in our proposal for fixed 4 year terms, an abbreviated version of it appears in today’s Canberra Times. Click here or here to read it.

Somehow in everything that has being going on in the last two weeks, I missed the High Court’s decision on the detention of asylum seekers on the Friday before last (6/8). Briefly, the HCA held that the Commonwealth Parliament could … Continue reading →

As if to prove my point, it appears that right about the time I was writing my last post, the Government and the ALP were teaming up to race a new law law through the Senate banning gay marriage in … Continue reading →

An extraordinary story broke at 4pm over here in the States today — the Governor of New Jersey held a press conference, disclosed that he was gay and had had an affair with another man, and announced that he’d resign. … Continue reading →

Speculation is rife at the moment about when the election is going to be called. Indeed speculation has been rife for months now! The parties gave up on any serious policy making work long ago. Fun as it may be … Continue reading →

Hot on the heels of Andrew’s post on why Australians dislike their politicans, comes a statement from 43 of Australia’s former military chiefs, department heads and senior diplomats about the importance of truth in government. The statement (read about it … Continue reading →

In a blog response, James Tauber asked about the book I edited with David Burchell in 2002: The Prince’s New Clothes: Why Do Australians Dislike Their Politicians? In the book, I suggested three reasons why Australians are less trusting of … Continue reading →

Not to dwell on the Convention, but to illustrate just how powerful speeches can be when politicians take them seriously, take a few minutes to watch rising star Barrack Obama’s speech. He takes a little while to warm up, and … Continue reading →

Was back in Boston last week for the Democratic National Convention – if you think it looks like a spectacle on TV you should see it in person! It is common in Aussie political circles to disparage the conduct of … Continue reading →

A few weeks ago, Mac and I did an interview with SBS radio. It was a good chance to talk about our ideas on national identity, multiculturalism and immigration. Click here to listen to the interview.

In its latest edition of its fortnightly management publication Worth Noting, leading Australian research and conferences organisation L21 reviews some of the ideas that we present in our chapter on Sustaining Growth & Prosperity. Click here to read L21’s take … Continue reading →