A good policy or reform is often backed by an evidence-based, holistic approach, but when the policy settings aren’t right, it’s important that governments adjust them: Explain the change. Have confidence in the decision. Move on. A good example of this – playing out right now – is Queensland’s coal royalty settings, a policy change […]

You’re no doubt familiar with the saying, “All publicity is good publicity.” It was coined by a 19th-century showman called P.T. Barnum, who owned and a ran a circus. You may know him as The Greatest Showman. I beg to differ with Mr Barnum and, I suspect in more recent times, several football stars and major […]

Thirty years ago, I entered Parliament in the 1996 Howard election landslide. Under Paul Keating, Labor had been reduced to a rump, and one of the few ALP members to enter Parliament was the member for Grayndler, Anthony Albanese. Ironically, the Howard victory delivered a 94-seat majority — the same number as the ALP majority […]

Australia is a small country, and while we may appear distant or small to our western neighbours, when our voice is heard, it carries weight – real weight.  As political divisiveness dominates American and European discourse, Anthony Albanese has emerged as a steady and effective Prime Minister, prioritising Australia’s national interest over personal ideology. His […]

I’m going to start this column with two cowardly disclaimers. The first is that I realise it may not age well, and that by 10pm on Sunday night it could be looking decidedly stale. But that’s the risk one takes when committing thought bubbles to print. The second is an apology to our many clients […]

This month marks 12 months since the election of the Crisafulli Government. During this period, it has focused on key election commitments such as fighting youth crime, reducing ambulance ramping and improving infrastructure productivity.  These issues – and others – can’t be resolved overnight, so the government will maintain momentum on these key pillars throughout […]

The United States is back in familiar but volatile territory: Donald Trump returned to the White House, bringing with him a foreign and economic policy that prioritises disruption over predictability. But this time, the global stakes are arguably higher, and for Australia, the consequences more complex. I recently returned from the United States, where I […]

Throw a stone and you’re bound to find an article lamenting the death of the arts in Australia, especially cinema. A quick scan through the arts section and I see how many decades-old programs and institutions are underfunded or going out of business. Although opportunities for burgeoning artists remain, there prevails a looming sense of […]

A political reckoning could be about to hit the United Kingdom. One so big that, if it occurs, would be bigger than Brexit and Trump’s election (both times) combined. According to the opinion polls, there is the distinct possibility that, for the first time since 1922, Britain will have a Prime Minister from neither the […]