This Month
Government, business reject criticism of PM’s China ‘working holiday’
As Anthony Albanese flew home, the opposition said his six-day visit lacked tangible outcomes and was just a photo opportunity.
June
Taylor widens divide on defence, as Albanese rebuffs $40b US demand
The Coalition has recommitted to boosting defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP, even as the PM pushes back on the Trump administration’s demands of a big boost.
May
How a hoax bomb plot pushed Albanese to shake up security
The prime minister’s cabinet reshuffle marks the start of an opportunity for him to reshape the voices who advise him on national security.
January
DeepSeek poses security risk like Huawei and TikTok, Labor warned
National security analysts are urging the Albanese government to implement stringent security controls of the use of Chinese-developed artificial intelligence.
Billions more needed for defence to ward off China: military experts
As Donald Trump demands allies spend more, Australia’s security community says about 3 per cent of gross domestic product is the new benchmark for military expenditure.
These 10 charts show how our region is preparing for war
Alarm over China’s ‘one-sided’ surge in military spending has prompted a regional arms race – and Australia is part of it.
October 2024
The map that Canberra doesn’t want you to see
Australia’s military integration with the US proceeds apace, but is the Albanese government coming clean on the risks?
July 2024
Pezzullo bangs the war drums against placating an ‘imagined China’
The former Home Affairs secretary does not, however, present a philosophy of international relations that might form a basis for Australia’s position in the world.
June 2024
Risk of war with China rising fast, ex-security chief warns
Former Home Affairs Department head Mike Pezzullo wants a new defence production tsar with “superpowers” to shake up how the military acquires weapons.
May 2024
Crisis-focused Home Affairs fails to prepare for security threats
A review of the $6.3 billion Home Affairs department has found it is too focused on crisis management, and lacks the trust of other key intelligence agencies.
Bull and the budget: supplicants take over Canberra
As the treasurer hands down his third budget, hasn’t he aroused a stupendous chorus of critics?
April 2024
Pezzullo takes first step to redemption
The former Home Affairs secretary admitted his mistakes and accepted his disgrace, and knows he will not be working with the Commonwealth for some time.
December 2023
Bonfire of the CEOs: Rear Window’s 2023 year in review
The year ended with a lecture from the mining establishment, but not before a carry-on of CEOs joined the unemployment queue.
November 2023
Albanese dumps merit pledge to tap new Home Affairs chief
Anthony Albanese has rushed through the appointment of a new Home Affairs secretary, breaking a pledge on merit-based selections.
Government may rue the day Pezzullo was unleashed
Mike Pezzullo knew his days as a federal secretary were numbered when his private texts were published. Unconstrained by official protocols ministers may rue the day they terminated him.
Pezzullo sacked after inquiry into text messages
Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo has been removed from one of the most powerful roles in the public service after being found to have breached the code of conduct at least 14 times.
Pezzullo sacked; Healius boss exits; Is Goldman wrong?
Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.
October 2023
Why cabinet needs the two Mikes – Pezzullo and Burgess
The ASIO chief and his portfolio secretary come from Canberra’s warrior class. Despite any personal failings, their frank and fearless advice is valuable.
Mike Pezzullo confidant Scott Briggs vanishes
The funny thing is, Briggs joined DPG Advisory Solutions after his closeness to Scott Morrison and other Coalition figures made his old job untenable.
Australia needs more public servants like Mike Pezzullo
The tall poppy who fixes government, makes it work and do things it otherwise could not is the natural target for those who want to critique policy, without openly challenging it.