Time for a fresh start in Victoria
Unless they can sort out their own internal divisions, the Victorian Liberals will not be the potent force they need to be. And voters will continue to be the biggest losers.
Editorials
Spirit of hope and renewal the season’s true message
That spirit is alive in Bethlehem, where an enterprise of traditional handmade glass decorations – ‘handblown by Muslims, painted by Christians, shipped by Israel’ – is thriving. Merry Christmas, Hanukkah Sameach and happy holidays to all.
Big spending on energy and housing has its risks
Economic benefits of infrastructure must outweigh cost to taxpayers.
Cash splash a missed opportunity
Solomons send Canberra on a merry Christmas dance over funding.
Mad situation in mental health
Mental health spending priorities are all wrong.
Bali Nine criminals not rock stars
The big message must never be lost. That is that there is nothing glamorous about drugs or jail – just broken dreams and wasted lives.
Wyatt’s home truths on reform
Time for a new approach that draws its strength from the centre
Austerity awaits if Canberra ignores lessons of history
More public spending to keep the economy afloat is not the transformative agenda that Australia needs to keep up with Donald Trump in his imminent second term.
ASPI cuts a further stain on foreign policy legacy
It is difficult to see the proposed federal government changes to the oversight and funding arrangements for security think tanks as anything other than a bid to stifle debate and placate the concerns of bureaucratic insiders and communist foreign powers.
Kyiv embassy decision is overdue
It is a serious national embarrassment that Australia, alone among Western allies, has been the standout laggard and taken so long to restore our embassy to the Ukrainian capital.
We stand with The Times writers
With its appalling record of killing opponents, the Putin regime’s warning that editorial writers at our sister paper ‘are now legitimate military targets’ must be taken seriously.
High debt, deficit outlook is Labor’s first-term result
Jim Chalmers’ MYEFO performance puts beyond doubt that the nature of the Albanese Labor government is to tax and spend big and kick the consequences down the road for others to fix.
Wong makes a mess on Israel
The only question about why Israel’s Foreign Minister has taken Penny Wong to task is what took Gideon Sa’ar so long.
Business failures a sign of hard times, bad policies
There is an eerie and unflattering coincidence in the statistics that for every additional public servant added by the Albanese government, a private sector business has slipped into insolvency.
Williams takes his shot at ABC
ABC chairman Kim Williams has taken his big opportunity to recast the organisational culture of the public broadcaster and it must not go to waste.
Israel stands up for its principles
The significance of Israel’s decision to close its embassy in Dublin ‘because Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with’ the Jewish state should not be lost on the Albanese government.
Whole-of-system approach needed on power reform
The truth about decarbonising the energy system and economy is that the further you go, the more difficult and expensive it becomes.
Budget disasters repeat for Labor
Tim Pallas is going but the impact of the longstanding Victorian Treasurer’s high-tax and debt-funded approach to state finances will be long-lasting.
Drug mules a salutary lesson
After spending half their lives in prison, the fate of the remaining Bali Nine members is a telling metaphor for all that is utterly evil and just plain idiotic about those involved in the drugs trade.
Blind eye turned to years of abuse of pole vaulters
Pole vault coach Alex Parnov is unlikely to face justice in Australia for his abuse of young female athletes. But who knew what, when and how must be identified and held to account.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/editorials