That’s the opinion of respected anthropologist Peter Sutton,  talking on ABC PM: I’m not sure that governments can close gaps by action in this context other than tweaking things around the edges. I wish it were otherwise. I have the view that in the short-term these interventions are necessary, or at least most of them are, but in the long-term that the best action would be to actually withdraw government from interfering so much with people’s lives and racially structuring... Read Full Story

I think MT still needs a bit more time in the hot seat, but if the polls have not turned around 10 months from the election, Abbott should have a go. From the Spectator Australia: As well as being the coalition’s parliamentary ‘enforcer’ as Leader of the House, Abbott was the former government’s intellectual in residence, churning out fortnightly articles for the Sydney Morning Herald, debating Julia Gillard every Friday morning on the Today programme, and giving numerous scripted speeches pr... Read Full Story

I’d previously weighed into US Republican politics by arguing that Romney would be a better pick than Palin at the next Presidential election because, unlike Palin, Romney has intellectually prepared himself to lead as President and win arguments for conservatives. Highly respected media commentator Charles Krauthammer recently expressed similar sentiments: Romney really is the frontrunner. He has done himself well. He is a grown-up. He knows economics. He’s trusted on that. Under... Read Full Story

A fairly damning assessment of Rudd’s 24 news spin cycle tactics from former adviser to the Small Business Minister, Craig Emerson: …he is trapped by his opposition policy agenda established in times of irrational exuberance. It began when Kevin07 challenged John Howard with anti-market measures that grabbed attention on the nightly news and won him favour on Seven’s Sunrise. This was sometimes referred to as “scab flicking” politics. An issue would be raised, he... Read Full Story

A no clearer example on how the ABC turns a positive story into a negative narrative, under the headline: “Bishop defends secret Afghan trip.” Defend against who exactly? …visits to war zones by Australian political leaders are only revealed when the politicians leave the area. It meant Ms Bishop and Mr Turnbull’s absence was unexplained while questions were still being asked about the OzCar affair. But she says it was unavoidable. “It was planned for some months... Read Full Story

The government has released the new Defence Capability Plan, which is basically a military equipment capital acquisition programme. The five most strategically significant projects detailed in this year’s document are the F-35 JSF, the future submarine, the defence force’s new battlespace communications, replacement field vehicles for the army and patrol boats for the navy. Add to that a squadron of quasi-bombers in the Boeing 737 maritime patrol aircraft. I’d like to echo r... Read Full Story

Alan Jones had an effective rant yesterday about the failure of three of Rudd’s highest profile initatives: bank, fuel and grocery watch. The NAB reported that only two people had ever used Rudd’s bank watch to transfer their accounts between banks. He also highlighted the groupie mentality of the Canberra press gallery, as also pointed out by the Australian: …last August, aided and abetted by a gullible media ever ready to follow the government’s populist line, then c... Read Full Story

Never in living memory has a PM and a government promised so much but delivered so little. Add to the list the following item. Rudd said on May 25th 2009 in relation to May NSW floods: Today the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs also activated the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment to provide further assistance to help those in northern New South Wales affected by the flood disaster…I have also today authorised this assistance for peo... Read Full Story

Thanks to Rudd’s soft immigration policies introduced in August 2008: A MASSIVE influx of up to 10,000 refugees is expected to head to Australia, Indonesian authorities have warned…Coordinator of the Malaysian immigration support group Tenaganita, Aegile Fernandez agreed that up to 10,000 asylum seekers in Malaysia were planning to come to Australia. MT should harden-up on illegal immigration and use it as a way of getting some credibility back into his leadership. How many more... Read Full Story

In Australia: There are now only eight AA-rated banks in the world, and the Australian domestic brand names of CBA, NAB, ANZ and Westpac account for half. Before the financial crisis engulfed the world there were 20 AA-banks. The robust state of Australia’s banking system has been applauded globally and used as a benchmark for regulatory reform. In China: China’s banks are veering out of control. The half-reformed economy of the People’s Republic cannot absorb the $1,000bn (... Read Full Story