Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent trying to make Parliament House more secure after a major security incident in 1992. On Thursday, these investments were shown to be useless.
ADF deaths and woundings in Afghanistan serve as a reminder of the need to acknowledge ‘different views’ about the return of the deeply idiosyncratic man the PM welcomed home.
The price Australia pays for Anthony Albanese’s stabilised engagement with communist China – with the mantra ‘co-operate, disagree, engage’ – is that all substance is drained from the relationship.
Donald Trump is a lithe, politically agile, driven, endlessly moving, entertaining media performer: every development is turned into a fundraising opportunity or a political rally.
On Monday, Lai Ching-te will be inaugurated as president of Taiwan. It is way past time for Australia to step up its engagement with a stable, democratic trading partner.
Albanese should not lose an opportunity to push back against Beijing’s bullying as a way to correct the impression that he has been too fawning and susceptible to Communist Party flattery.
No one should be surprised that the radicalisation trail leads directly to recent Islamist extremist violence in the Middle East. So why has the Albanese government been so tolerant of aggressive protests on our streets?
In an age of government information control, we may not see reliable information about the identity, background and motives of the 16-year-old attacker.
Domestic posturing undermines our stake in the Middle East, makes us look like a fair-weather friend, deeply worries Australian Jews and enables the rise of extremist sentiment. So much for a more ‘nuanced’ foreign policy.
It is striking over the past few decades how the ADF has shaped the characteristics of modern generalship.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/peter-jennings/page/4