@neilefromburleigh.bsky.social
In the wake of the Bondi horror, John Howard returns to make partisan mischief. It was Howard as PM who destroyed the institutions and policies managing Australia's cultural diversity. Their core was acceptance of difference within an absolute commitment to Australian democracy and the rule of law.
December 16, 2025 at 9:34 AM
In the wake of the Bondi horror, John Howard returns to make partisan mischief. It was Howard as PM who destroyed the institutions and policies managing Australia's cultural diversity. Their core was acceptance of difference within an absolute commitment to Australian democracy and the rule of law.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/o...
Dear Americans
Try diluting your cultural penchant for belief with passionate intensity with kindness, forbearance, openness and just a little scepticism. Christ did. He spared the adulterer and expelled the money changers.
Australian Christian
Dear Americans
Try diluting your cultural penchant for belief with passionate intensity with kindness, forbearance, openness and just a little scepticism. Christ did. He spared the adulterer and expelled the money changers.
Australian Christian
Opinion | Why So Many Gen Z-ers Are Drawn to Conservative Christianity
www.nytimes.com
October 14, 2025 at 8:19 AM
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/13/o...
Dear Americans
Try diluting your cultural penchant for belief with passionate intensity with kindness, forbearance, openness and just a little scepticism. Christ did. He spared the adulterer and expelled the money changers.
Australian Christian
Dear Americans
Try diluting your cultural penchant for belief with passionate intensity with kindness, forbearance, openness and just a little scepticism. Christ did. He spared the adulterer and expelled the money changers.
Australian Christian
Dear American friends, do you know the expression "kiss up, kick down guy"? If so, does it drip with contempt for you too?
August 17, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Dear American friends, do you know the expression "kiss up, kick down guy"? If so, does it drip with contempt for you too?
Dear Americans
We elsewhere in the West have always admired you as brave defenders of freedom. We shook our heads and indulged as your quirk that freedom justifies tolerating poverty, let alone the guns and mass murder. Still we believed you on freedom. Yet you seem to accept a would-be tyrant.
We elsewhere in the West have always admired you as brave defenders of freedom. We shook our heads and indulged as your quirk that freedom justifies tolerating poverty, let alone the guns and mass murder. Still we believed you on freedom. Yet you seem to accept a would-be tyrant.
April 23, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Dear Americans
We elsewhere in the West have always admired you as brave defenders of freedom. We shook our heads and indulged as your quirk that freedom justifies tolerating poverty, let alone the guns and mass murder. Still we believed you on freedom. Yet you seem to accept a would-be tyrant.
We elsewhere in the West have always admired you as brave defenders of freedom. We shook our heads and indulged as your quirk that freedom justifies tolerating poverty, let alone the guns and mass murder. Still we believed you on freedom. Yet you seem to accept a would-be tyrant.
If another proof of Zola's dictum that the only sin that God doesn't forgive is the sin of bad taste, it was Trump, on a WH balcony, declaring Pope Francis, who died at Easter, "a good man"...alongside a cartoon bunny.
I felt like puking.
I felt like puking.
April 22, 2025 at 9:21 AM
If another proof of Zola's dictum that the only sin that God doesn't forgive is the sin of bad taste, it was Trump, on a WH balcony, declaring Pope Francis, who died at Easter, "a good man"...alongside a cartoon bunny.
I felt like puking.
I felt like puking.
Dogwhistle Dutton
March 20, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Dogwhistle Dutton
Canvassed today with @zoedaniel.bsky.social on a street of Saturday morning shoppers. A visiting New York couple were astonished to see the MP, chatting casually to any constituent who approached her - no security, no minders. Democracy doesn't only die in darkness perhaps, but in distance.
March 15, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Canvassed today with @zoedaniel.bsky.social on a street of Saturday morning shoppers. A visiting New York couple were astonished to see the MP, chatting casually to any constituent who approached her - no security, no minders. Democracy doesn't only die in darkness perhaps, but in distance.
If you were setting out to destroy the West, you couldn't be more thorough. If there really were a deep state in national security, it couldn't be more supine. It was a long game, Americans, but you were played.
March 3, 2025 at 10:17 PM
If you were setting out to destroy the West, you couldn't be more thorough. If there really were a deep state in national security, it couldn't be more supine. It was a long game, Americans, but you were played.
Want to know more about how Independence Works? Read more here.
Wondering what Independents have been up to for the past three years?
We’ve made a list of some of the biggest Independent achievements at IndieWins.com.au so you can find out.
We’ve made a list of some of the biggest Independent achievements at IndieWins.com.au so you can find out.
March 1, 2025 at 1:24 AM
www.theage.com.au/national/tru...
Dear Americans, especially Republicans in Congress and competent Defense officials, read this. Is this the outcome you sought?
Dear Americans, especially Republicans in Congress and competent Defense officials, read this. Is this the outcome you sought?
Trump retreat emboldens Putin and Xi. Australia must rethink its whole US relationship
Australia needs a plan B: if we can no longer rely on America’s intervention to defend our interests, we need to bolster our own defences.
www.theage.com.au
February 16, 2025 at 9:33 PM
www.theage.com.au/national/tru...
Dear Americans, especially Republicans in Congress and competent Defense officials, read this. Is this the outcome you sought?
Dear Americans, especially Republicans in Congress and competent Defense officials, read this. Is this the outcome you sought?
Trump has announced tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium. He's said to see tariffs as bargaining coin. So what's on the table? US trade surplus with Australia? US intelligence and communication bases eg Pine Gap? US defence materiel eg nuclear subs Australia just made an early down payment on?
February 10, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Trump has announced tariffs on Australian steel and aluminium. He's said to see tariffs as bargaining coin. So what's on the table? US trade surplus with Australia? US intelligence and communication bases eg Pine Gap? US defence materiel eg nuclear subs Australia just made an early down payment on?
American exceptionalism: Wilson proposes the League of Nations, US refuses to join; US creates GATT/WTO, Trump 1 unilaterally imposes tariffs; US leads on creation of Nuremberg principles, US always rejects International Criminal Court jurisdiction, Trump 2 sanctions ICC for applying them.
February 7, 2025 at 8:24 AM
American exceptionalism: Wilson proposes the League of Nations, US refuses to join; US creates GATT/WTO, Trump 1 unilaterally imposes tariffs; US leads on creation of Nuremberg principles, US always rejects International Criminal Court jurisdiction, Trump 2 sanctions ICC for applying them.
Suspend disbelief. Imagine that Gaza can be depopulated without bloodshed or massive costs for relocation and compensation. Now imagine persuading bankers to fund resorts and then "internationals" to buy or holiday in a place guaranteed to attract terrorism fueled by hopelessness and revenge.
February 7, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Suspend disbelief. Imagine that Gaza can be depopulated without bloodshed or massive costs for relocation and compensation. Now imagine persuading bankers to fund resorts and then "internationals" to buy or holiday in a place guaranteed to attract terrorism fueled by hopelessness and revenge.
February 7, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Has anyone in the US seen the similarity between the puppies raised to attack dogs by Napoleon the pig in Orwell's Animal Farm and Musk's tech kids savaging US agencies?
February 5, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Has anyone in the US seen the similarity between the puppies raised to attack dogs by Napoleon the pig in Orwell's Animal Farm and Musk's tech kids savaging US agencies?
Will an American explain to me how, leaving aside everything else the fat fraud has done to render him suitable for office, most don't guffaw each time he turns up with that make-up?
February 1, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Will an American explain to me how, leaving aside everything else the fat fraud has done to render him suitable for office, most don't guffaw each time he turns up with that make-up?
www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/li...
Agreed entirely. I first visited the Louvre in 1985 and could enjoy the masterpieces in tranquillity. Some galleries were crowded, but people politely made space. Returning a decade ago was a miserable experience - a forest of smartphones.
Agreed entirely. I first visited the Louvre in 1985 and could enjoy the masterpieces in tranquillity. Some galleries were crowded, but people politely made space. Returning a decade ago was a miserable experience - a forest of smartphones.
Jostling happy snappers are ruining art galleries for everyone
Taking photos in galleries is not only disruptive to the people around you – it detracts from the whole point of galleries in the first place.
www.theage.com.au
January 14, 2025 at 1:33 AM
www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/li...
Agreed entirely. I first visited the Louvre in 1985 and could enjoy the masterpieces in tranquillity. Some galleries were crowded, but people politely made space. Returning a decade ago was a miserable experience - a forest of smartphones.
Agreed entirely. I first visited the Louvre in 1985 and could enjoy the masterpieces in tranquillity. Some galleries were crowded, but people politely made space. Returning a decade ago was a miserable experience - a forest of smartphones.
Waled Aly is a brilliant Australian political philosopher with a rare ability to communicate in ordinary language. His message here is about how critical it is to engage with people rather than preach if we seek to persuade. I hope our American friends can access the article.
January 9, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Waled Aly is a brilliant Australian political philosopher with a rare ability to communicate in ordinary language. His message here is about how critical it is to engage with people rather than preach if we seek to persuade. I hope our American friends can access the article.
In 1974 I wrote an article for our student newspaper worrying that as technology creates a multiplicity of channels, the common discourse needed by democracy may collapse. It came to pass. The one cure is civil conversation with those we disagree with. Reach out. Show forbearance. Reason patiently.
December 31, 2024 at 12:23 AM
In 1974 I wrote an article for our student newspaper worrying that as technology creates a multiplicity of channels, the common discourse needed by democracy may collapse. It came to pass. The one cure is civil conversation with those we disagree with. Reach out. Show forbearance. Reason patiently.
Anschluss is a word Canadians would do well to check the meaning of.
December 20, 2024 at 9:42 PM
Anschluss is a word Canadians would do well to check the meaning of.
Musk is not unprecedented. Absolute monarchies have regularly fallen under the influence of court favourites and king-makers such that they control government viz Sarah Churchill, Richelieu, Rasputin. GOP should remember that the US Constitution abolished monarchy.
December 19, 2024 at 11:13 PM
Musk is not unprecedented. Absolute monarchies have regularly fallen under the influence of court favourites and king-makers such that they control government viz Sarah Churchill, Richelieu, Rasputin. GOP should remember that the US Constitution abolished monarchy.
If the Trump administration discontinues provision of or removes mandates for vaccines against polio, measles, smallpox et al, and these diseases spread in the US, other (more cautious, perhaps rational) jurisdictions may require proof of vaccination before US travellers are allowed to enter.
December 18, 2024 at 1:27 AM
If the Trump administration discontinues provision of or removes mandates for vaccines against polio, measles, smallpox et al, and these diseases spread in the US, other (more cautious, perhaps rational) jurisdictions may require proof of vaccination before US travellers are allowed to enter.
Last night, the Australian Federal Parliament passed legislation to restrict children under 16 accessing social media to address its mental health impacts. Musk and Zuckerberg hate it. Watch this space.
November 28, 2024 at 8:10 PM
Last night, the Australian Federal Parliament passed legislation to restrict children under 16 accessing social media to address its mental health impacts. Musk and Zuckerberg hate it. Watch this space.
As an Australian, let me apologise for exporting the Murdoch family first to UK then the US. They are now US citizens. That hasn't stopped them continuing to corrupt political discourse in Australia and the UK, even if their impact on US democracy is unforgivable. Remember: before Musk, Murdoch.
November 28, 2024 at 7:58 AM
As an Australian, let me apologise for exporting the Murdoch family first to UK then the US. They are now US citizens. That hasn't stopped them continuing to corrupt political discourse in Australia and the UK, even if their impact on US democracy is unforgivable. Remember: before Musk, Murdoch.
Some Americans are concerned about the impact of tariffs on the prices they pay. Quite rightly. But the bigger economic impact will be that global trade will shrink. Then US production will shrink as import replacement cannot compensate for bigger losses in US export markets. That means lost jobs.
November 26, 2024 at 7:58 AM
Some Americans are concerned about the impact of tariffs on the prices they pay. Quite rightly. But the bigger economic impact will be that global trade will shrink. Then US production will shrink as import replacement cannot compensate for bigger losses in US export markets. That means lost jobs.