Assessing the role of the Opposition in Australian politics

The other day I was reflecting on the role of the Opposition and how they were doing much better in the polls lately.

Despite this, I am not sure if its actual performance improving?

This piece was published for the Centre for Policy Development

Cheers, james

Protecting the Australian Commons and privatisation

Recently, I was invited to be a guest on ABC's Nightlife. The discussion was focused on whether, in a modern complex state, the integration between the public sphere and private enterprise can define how we all live.

From transport to telecommunications, governments around the world are struggling to find out which gives us the best standard of living - the market or the ministers? I tried to present the issue of the commons, though we got focused on privatisation, there was still some good points discussed...

Listen to it here...

Cheers, james

Are we a racist country?

There was something about former Telstra CEO, Sol Trujillo that many Australians never warmed to: maybe it was his brash style or the fact his vision for Telstra was so far removed from what many of us thought it should be, that any goodwill quickly disappeared. His recent interview confirms he never quite clicked with Australia, and his view that Australia is a racist country confirms he never quite “got” us, or our humour. Or does it?

Check out what Antionette Abboud and I are thinking... and what some of the great resonses are at the Centre for Policy Development...

Feedback welcome

Cheers, james