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Georgina Downer

This Month

We have seen how Trump deals with countries he views as free riders. At the same time as the White House was melting down over Zelensky, Australia was meekly observing three Chinese war ships circumnavigating our continent.

Labor says supporting Ukraine an easy choice, but what about Taiwan?

The Chinese live-fire fiasco showed the government’s short-term domestic political considerations are hampering our ability to deter and damaging our credibility as an alliance partner.

February

John Lister, Labor Party candidate for Werribee and Premier Jacinta Allan at an election Labor party event in Werribee.

Victoria’s byelection shows we need two-party system more than ever

Minor parties and independents lack the experience and ability to govern when it comes to serious policy issues facing Australia.

January

Opposition leader, Peter Dutton

Can hard times change the teal tide for Dutton?

It would be foolish to write off the opposition leader’s values-based election pitch. Economic conditions might hit home in the post-material seats he must win.

To win, Brad Battin must channel Menzies and become the voice of families.

Three lessons for Liberals to win in Victoria

New state party leader Brad Battin must offer a clear alternative to Labor’s high-tax, high-debt governance.

December 2024

There were chaotic scenes when Anthony Albanese visited the Assad Israel Synagogue in Melbourne.

Albanese must lead like Labor heroes Evatt and Hawke on antisemitism

When Australia’s Jewish community has been under threat, strong prime ministers have stepped up to offer support and reassurance. Today, that sense of security is evaporating.

November 2024

Of all the 31 prime ministers of Australia, Robert Menzies is the outlier when it comes to education.

Neither side of politics shares Menzies’ vision for higher education

Instead of Labor and the Coalition blaming international students for housing shortages, they should reimagine our universities as engines of progress.

July 2024

Assassinations have made even democracies into darker places.

How toxic talk turns too easily to assassin’s bullets

A more centrist political culture doesn’t make Australia immune to the language that has inflamed American politics in recent times.

Prime Minister Robert Menzies launches Australia’s first nuclear reactor,  HIFAR, on April 18, 1958.

Why we need to have a genuine look at nuclear energy

Nuclear energy is the kind of nation building policy we need when our lucky country’s luck is running out.

June 2024

Greens leaders Adam Bandt and Ellen Sandell at a pro-Palestinian protest at Melbourne University in May.

Greens are a threat to Australia’s bipartisan tolerance

To have a political party standing side by side with protestors who call for the elimination of the Jewish state “from the river to the sea” is intolerable.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/georgina-downer-p537hu