Spending, not weather, is priority
The challenge is to keep a tight rein on government spending as our terms of trade tighten and global uncertainty gathers pace. Neither side of politics has made a convincing case that it has a plan.
Editorials
Bowen left behind as big climate goes for F1 and jets
Politicians have a lot to learn from the ability of business leaders to bite the bullet and move on, particularly when it comes to the difficult challenge of climate and energy.
US Houthis attack a good move
But US action is unlikely to achieve its goals unless Donald Trump can somehow ensure Iran is compelled to end its support for the Yemeni rebels.
Crunch time on submarines
Australia is struggling with major upgrades of our ageing Collins-class submarines. Given the paucity of our navy and the deterioration in the strategic outlook, national security must be the priority.
Fix bracket creep under wider economic reforms
Rising deficits and taxes will not create prosperity the nation needs.
Ideology skewing law course
Students should be taught how, not what, to think.
Coalition of the willing’s vital role
The Ukraine war is about upholding the rule of international law.
Nation needs new markets to beat destructive tariffs
As the Prime Minister says, the US President’s moves are ‘not those of a friend’. The possibility of further tariffs suggests the 2005 Australia-US free trade agreement is no longer worth the paper it was printed on.
Dutton, Taylor must get moving
It is a mistake to leave the hard work of convincing the electorate of the need for reform and the details of it to the election campaign. The energy disaster provides a platform to build the case for change.
Exit boring wokeism, stage left
Outgoing Adelaide Festival director Brett Sheehy hit the nail on the head when he accused left-of-centre artists of pursuing a ‘selective diversity’ that could be limiting their audience reach.
Trump out in cold on Greenland
If Donald Trump needed evidence of why his clumsy internationalism is not always the best approach to the conduct of US foreign policy, it has come in the result of Greenland’s poll.
Energy shock treatment keeps coming for Bowen
Ideological fascination has been allowed to derail common sense.
Keystone cops need to get real
Flawed policing gives rise to perceptions of political motivation.
A few steps forward, big ones back
Indigenous adults and children are making progress on several Closing the Gap benchmarks. But the latest report has a bleak undertone.
Ukraine’s best chance at peace
Concerted pressure is needed to push Putin to sign the ceasefire.
Free-trade agenda is bigger than steel and aluminium
With Trump back in the White House it is going to be a bumpy ride.
Housing reveals a bigger failure
Time to remove heavy hand of tax and regulation from enterprise.
Starstruck Chalmers in search of his own narrative
The current Labor policies directly contradict the Hawke-Keating thrust.
Turnbull’s timing is ill-considered and the implications for Australia are real
By comparing Donald Trump unfavourably with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Malcolm Turnbull has invited the US President into Australian politics at a delicate moment.
Hung parliament is unaffordable
The prospect of a minority government relying on independents with scant interest in growth, strategic policy and defence spending is the last thing the nation needs.
Trump must stop Iran’s nukes
The US President and Western nations must leave the ayatollahs in no doubt they will ensure Tehran does not get nuclear weapons.
China poses as source of stability
The Communist Party seeks new allies amid uncertainty over the US.
Campaign must focus on rebuilding living standards
The Albanese government’s fourth budget needs to be much more than a populist vote-buying exercise framed around cost-of-living relief.
Commonsense communication
Premier David Crisafulli is giving southeast Queenslanders plenty of sensible leeway to decide whether to venture on public transport on Monday or to send their children to school.
VC backs ideal of a university
University leaders talk a big game about freedom of speech and respect for scholarship, but in 2024 some lost control of their campus to anti-Semitic zealots.
Trump’s tariffs up-end world economic order
When the stockmarket is buoyant, Donald Trump likes to claim it is a sign of his policy success.
State Labor to keep grip on west
While Roger Cook has earned another term, a stronger, more effective state opposition would be in the interests of West Australians.
Defence spend a long-term turning point for budget
The call by Elbridge Colby, Donald Trump’s nominee for under secretary of defence for policy , for a big lift in Australian defence spending from 2 per cent of GDP to at least 3 per cent was no surprise
Time to reform heritage laws
Taxpayers are being asked to stump up millions in funding for controversial heritage claims. It’s time to reform these laws.
Small uptick in growth welcome
It’s a modest start but, without a substantial improvement, maintaining and improving living standards will be increasingly problematic.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/editorials/page/3