Originally published in The Australian Because Voice supporters are worried that the referendum might fail, they’re now arguing among themselves about whether to water down their proposed change to our system of government. A constitutionally entrenched indigenous Voice that was only to the parliament would certainly be less radical a change. But it would remain…
Originally published in The Australian The Prime Minister’s emotion was understandable last week, talking about the Indigenous voice to parliament, because a better deal for Indigenous people should be a key part of our national project. All of us want to close the outcomes gap between the First Australians and everyone else; and almost all…
Originally published in The Spectator Australia When it comes to the Voice, Anthony Albanese is breaking all the rules for successfully changing the constitution. First, he hasn’t thoroughly explained how the change would work. Second, he hasn’t given both sides of the argument a fair go to make their point. And third, he’s made no…
Originally published in The Sydney Morning Herald The chief frustration for an ex-prime minister is watching your former colleagues making big decisions without you, especially if you disagree with them. After offering advice in private, the big temptation is to repeat that advice in public on those occasions when it’s not acted upon. Sometimes, this…
Originally published in The Australian As Prime Minister, I regularly affirmed that: climate does change, mankind does make a contribution, and we should do whatever we reasonably can to reduce our emissions. I’d normally add, though, that there was little point reducing emissions in ways that drove up our cost of living or just sent…
This funeral, is less a sad farewell to a great friend; and more, a joyous tribute to a great hero. It’s the celebration of a wonderful life; a once-in-a-generation gathering, of the people of faith; to re-dedicate ourselves to the ideals, George Pell lived for; and to draw strength, from each other, for the struggles…
23 January 2023 E&OE……………………….…………………………………………………………………………… Originally published in The Telegraph It is easy to be so consumed by day-to-day international events that you miss a major development. Some days ago, one such development occurred. The treaty, signed at the Tower of London, allowing British forces to be stationed in Japan, and vice-versa, marks a new phase…
Originally published in The Australian The best way to honour the dead is less to elaborate on their human decency than to take seriously the causes that mattered to them. Of course, it was hard to find a better man than the late Senator Jim Molan who was utterly dedicated to his family and to…
The passing of George Pell leaves a large, eclectic and global circle of friends and admirers bereft of a mentor. The Church has lost a servant and a teacher who came much closer than most to the imitation of Christ. And Australia has lost its greatest religious leader, at least since the redoubtable Archbishop Danny…
Originally published in The Daily Telegraph Goodwill towards Aboriginal people has never been greater and there is all-but-universal support for recognising indigenous people in the constitution. But this proposal for a constitutionally entrenched indigenous voice to the government and to the parliament is way beyond recognition. It’s a special body for some, but not all,…
